HUTCHINSON– The Noel Lodge, Hutchinson’s only emergency homeless shelter is set to reopen on Friday, according to Shara Gonzales, President and Executive Director of New Beginnings, who operate the shelter.

The shelter shut down last month after the state said it didn’t have a grant renewed because its application was missing information and it didn’t meet the minimum threshold for consideration. The shelter had received the federal Emergency Solutions Grant for 20 years.

According to Gonzales, they pared back the budget for Noel to just a basic shelter, dropping some services, rent assistance and some cost of grant administration. She said, “In seven days, a group of dedicated individuals and community agencies and services raised $28,500, so the shelter could reopen.

One of the donors was the Hutchinson Community Foundation with a gift of $6,090

The shelter consists of two separate rooms with dorm-like settings for men and women with five beds in each one. Then they also have two rooms dedicated to families, one large and one small.

They also serve a meal in the evening thanks to Hutchinson Regional Medical Center and then a light breakfast in the morning with items donated by local churches.

Now even though the shelter will open for the next three months, Gonzales says they still need to raise money. She says their efforts will center on an “adopt-a-month” strategy. She’s calling on churches, civic groups or organizations, businesses and even private individuals to maybe adopt one month out of the year and commit to providing the operational funds.

She says for more information on this adopt-a-month strategy, you can call 620-314-8088.