North Mankato Holiday Sale raising money for those coming out of homelessness

MANKATO, Minn. (KEYC) - Volunteers were channeling their inner Christmas elves to help raise money for those who were recently homeless and need help adjusting to their new spaces.

Founder of A Fresh Start, Amy Klugherz, said, “We have a community that realizes that if you are unhoused, that of course is tragic, but when you get put into a house, you find a house, an apartment, that we understand as a community that you have to have things to flourish.”

Klugherz said she started this program out of her kitchen! Thanks to the help of her family and volunteers, they’ve grown this initiative significantly over the last five years.

“Our goal is to raise at least $5,000,” Klugherz said. “We’d really like to raise $6,000 and if we could do more that would be wonderful.”

This sale is open to the public, but also the clients who receive a $25 voucher, to find items they might want as well.

Volunteer Kelly McDonough was pricing these items for sale, and she believes everyone should engage in this kind of work.

“This is a part of civic engagement, in helping those who have less than I have. And these are people that have significantly less. So, you know it’s an incredible feeling,” McDonough explained.

Klugherz says this joyfulness her and her volunteers are showing, embodies what the holidays are all about.

Klugherz said, “Our volunteers and donors are very selfless in wanting to make sure that they can change lives. Is there anything better about the holidays?”

The sale will be taking place Friday at Messiah Lutheran Church (1706 Lee Blvd. North Mankato, MN) from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.

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