Story by Mikayla Marshall, Staff writer

Murray State’s Students of Sociology club raised $473.50 to donate to the Merryman House in Paducah, Kentucky.

Every year the club hosts a fundraiser at Tent City during Homecoming to help an organization of their choice.

Yesenia Huizar, Co-President, said they always try to pick an organization dedicated to helping people, so this year they decided to support the Merryman House in Paducah, KY.

The Merryman House is dedicated to helping women, men, and children who’ve escaped a domestically abusive household as well as ending domestic violence in the community.

“It definitely took time (to organize the fundraiser) because we needed to go out and find people willing to donate,” Huizar said. “Everyone came together when we told them who we wanted to donate the money to.”

Carr’s Steakhouse in Mayfield, Kentucky donated all of the pulled pork to make the sandwiches, students in the club made homemade chips, and the Cake Lady bakery in Murray, Kentucky donated baked goods. Huizar feels like the event was not only supported by the sociology club but also by the community.

Joanna Butler, co-President, visited the center beforehand and saw that the organization was very high security, in order to keep the women and children safe.

“Who’s to say I won’t one day be in that situation or know someone in that situation,” Butler said. “They’re very much what they say they are doing.”

The Merryman House is the only certified domestic violence program in the Purchase Area with a 24-bed shelter and outreach offices serving eight counties in western Kentucky, according to the foundation. It was founded 37 years ago by a group of volunteers committed to saving, building, and changing lives affected by domestic violence. The organization provides legal, economic, and mental support for all its survivors. All services and needs provided are free and confidential.

“We’re very thankful,” Mary Foley, director of the Merryman House, said. “We could not complete our mission without every person who chooses to support and donate to our cause.”

Every nine seconds another woman is beaten, according to the Partnership Against Domestic Violence. Foley said it’s hard to picture domestic violence ever ending, but hopes that bystanders will take more action.

Murray state has an outreach office on campus, in the women’s center, for anyone in an abusive relationship or anyone who knows someone in an abusive relationship.

For anyone looking to donate to the Merryman House, Foley said the foundation is always in need of tangible objects, such as diapers, formula, cooking supplies and common household necessities.

Those looking to volunteer can click here to fill out a volunteer application. Foley said the best way to help is to raise awareness about domestic violence.

Next semester the Students of Sociology club plans on having a bake sale and the money will go toward another organization of the students’ choice.