MINOT, ND (KXNET) — Freezin for a Reason is the annual fundraiser held outside of Marketplace Foods in Minot to raise money as well as food and clothes for the Men's Winter Refuge. The fundraiser, which started over the weekend, was put on by the Minot State University Student Social Work Organization as a way of helping the only men's homeless shelter in the Minot Area. MSU social work student and organizer of Freezin for a Reason, Sophia Keeling, says they were able to get a wide variety of donations over the weekend. "I believe we were just shy of $2,000 in monetary donations, a lot of canned goods, but there's also you know granola bars and other breakfast foods and stuff like that that can kind of hang out in the pantry for a while without going bad," said Keeling. Executive Director of the Men's Winter Refuge, Mike Zimmer, says in the 10 years he's been at the shelter, Freezin for a Reason has been a major help in getting much-needed supplies to the shelter during a time of year when it's needed the most. "We get donations from the community on a year-round basis, including smaller and larger donations. Freezin for a Reason is definitely one of the larger ones. Every year, when they show up with their trailer full of stuff, I'm just blown away with how much stuff they get. When they showed up yesterday, my first thought was, 'We're not going to be able to use all this stuff,' so I was already thinking of other organizations that I could give some of the stuff we won't have," said Zimmer. Things to do around town: November 11-17 The Men's Winter Refuge is the only homeless shelter for men in the Minot area after the Project Bee Homeless Shelter was shut down last winter. The executive director was accused of embezzling shelter funds, so the shelter could no longer receive donations. While the refuge does have 12 beds, more people could be coming this winter than in the past. Despite North Dakota's small homeless population, Zimmer says that there are a lot of misconceptions about being homeless in North Dakota that people often don't take into account. "The biggest misconception about homelessness, not just in Minot, but everywhere, is that they can get themselves out of homelessness in a day or two if they just go out get a job, and that's just not the way it works. There's a lot of factors that cause people to become in a homeless situation: substance abuse and mental health are definitely top two," said Zimmer. However, Kneeling recognizes how important it is to give back to shelters in the community that support unhoused people as they navigate the added burden of having to deal with the weather. "It's hard not to have a home when you live in a place where the wind chill can get super, super cold and we won't be able to support our community members and recognize that homelessness isn't just an issue about getting a job, there are a lot more complex issues that come into play with that and being able to have community support and being able to recognize that is crucial," said Keeling. Giving a helping hand where it's needed. If you or someone you know would like to donate to the Men's Winter Refuge click here. Close Thanks for signing up! Watch for us in your inbox. Subscribe Now Today's Top Stories SIGN UP NOW