The "Help Shelter Your Neighbor" soup tasting fundraiser, sponsored by the Boone County Democrats, was held at the Boone County Historical Center, 602 Story St.
The fundraiser accepted freewill donations and non-perishable food items as admittance. Dozens of food items were gathered for a donation to the Red Rock Community Action Center food pantry, 606 Greene St. All of the funds raised from the event will go directly to the United Methodist Church Homeless Prevention Fund. A total of more than $1,600 was raised at the event.
"The turnout was fantastic - I was not expecting there to be this many people. It's just fantastic how many people showed up," Carrie Dunnwald, Youth and Shelter Services of Boone County Transitional Living Coordinator, said. "Especially getting the word out and we've had a ton of donations for the food pantry which is awesome and a lot of monetary donations, which will help. We're very, very thankful to the Democrats for putting this on. This is just amazing - I think it's the biggest crowd that I've ever spoken to."
The Boone County Democrats members were pleased with the turnout of the event on Friday.
"Oh my gosh - it was huge," Georgia Robertson, chair of Boone County Democrats, said. "I think that people just want to know more about homelessness. I think there were a lot of people from various churches and various people in the community that had heard about it - city councilmen, people that work with the youth, that work at the schools, that know about it. We had about 120 in attendance."
For more information on homelessness in Boone or to get involved, contact Carrie Dunnwald at 232-4332 ext. 4409 or by e-mail at cdunnwald@yss.ames.ia.us.
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Reach staff writer Katie Stines at kstines@newsrepublican.com
