MANHATTAN — A little more than a week after its 17th annual fundraising Bag Lady Auction, the Manhattan Emergency Shelter officials continue to tabulate exactly how much it will have to work with this year.
The event was held March 30 and typically brings in around $30,000. While final totals aren’t known yet, Executive Director Emily Wagner says she believes they were able to match the success of past events.
Wagner says they weren’t sure how well the event would be received since it was held a month earlier and on a Saturday rather than on a Friday.
Money raised from the annual event supports areas where funds are falling short, such as payroll taxes, insurance and utilities. Wagner says the funds are unrestricted, accounting for about 10 percent of its annual budget.
Wagner says reaction was mixed to the date change which saw the event held on a Saturday rather than the traditional Friday and the fact that it was held a month earlier than usual.
There are still quite a few needs at the shelter, especially as summer approaches. Sunscreen, bottled water, bug spray and light snacks are needed as they typically see more people into the shelter during the spring and summer. Wagner says additional items would help lower expenses too.
The shelter is usually near capacity as it can house up to 47 individuals. For more information about how you can help the shelter visit mesikansas.org.
