FARMINGTON — As the planned October opening of Franklin County’s first homeless shelter nears, organizers are hosting a fundraiser called Stuff the Mattress from noon to 4 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 14, in Meetinghouse Park. 

Money from the event in the Main Street park will help purchase mattresses and pay startup costs for the shelter, which is expected to open Oct. 1.

The event is also to promote awareness about the new shelter, Sara Sniadecki, advisory board member of Western Maine Homeless Outreach, told selectmen in her written request to use the park.

“One hundred percent of the money donated will be used for the startup costs associated with the homeless shelter,” she wrote to Town Manager Richard Davis. “These donations will reside in Franklin County and provide homeless families a safe and warm place to sleep.”

People are welcome to stop by anytime during the afternoon to hear local musicians play country, pop, folk and classical pieces. They can also bring their guitar.

Sniadecki, who works for the Franklin County Children’s Task Force, sits on the board and helps guide the direction based on need, Renee Blanchet, Task Force  director, said.

“The needs we see are fluid. Some months, there’s two or three families needing help; other months, there are none,” she said.

A small start, such as this one being developed by local churches, various programs and services but housed at the Living Waters Assembly of God Church on Wilton Road, is probably the right approach, she said. It’s good to offer something locally, she added.

The goal of the Western Maine Homeless Outreach is to transform futures by strengthening families to become self-sustaining.

Blanchet said they tend to see young parents or people in their late teens and early 20s who don’t have a lot of family support and end up sleeping on someone’s couch.

“This is a good opportunity to help them transition into their own apartment,” she said.

The public is welcome to attend Saturday’s event to learn and discuss the new shelter, enjoy the music from the gazebo and help stuff the mattress.

abryant@sunjournal.com