This story originally appeared in The Centre County Gazette.
STATE COLLEGE — Music will take center stage as Out of the Cold launches its annual Shelter Fest, a four-day community music festival aimed at raising both funds and awareness for homelessness in Centre County.
Set to run from Thursday, Aug. 7, through Sunday, Aug.10, Shelter Fest will feature 15 local musicians performing across four different venues, with all artists donating their time. Each event is free to attend, and contributions will be accepted on-site via QR code or house-shaped banks for cash and check donations.
Out of the Cold Board Chair Kendra Gettig said the idea behind Shelter Fest is rooted in the organization’s founding values.
“Out of the Cold has always been a community effort,” she said. “It began in 2011 after a man died from hypothermia while sleeping in a tent. Four churches came together to provide shelter and it’s grown since then, but community support has always been at its heart.”
This year’s venues include 814 Cider Works (Thursday, Aug. 7), University Wine Company (Friday, Aug. 8), Boal City Brewing (Saturday, Aug. 9) and Axemann Brewery (Sunday, Aug. 10).
Among the musicians performing are Big Red, Anchor and Arrow, Natascha and the Spy Boys, Walter Shultz, Grandma Ben, Biscuit Jam, Free Range and Acoustic Artifacts. Urban Fusion will close Saturday’s show, and Eric Ian Farmer will headline on Sunday. Jim Colbert, originally scheduled, will be replaced by Mary Madigan and David Powell.
While the festival promises an entertaining lineup, its purpose goes far beyond the music.
“We desire to raise awareness,” Gettig said. “Between sets, we’ll share stories and information about Out of the Cold, our shelter and housing programs.”
Out of the Cold operates as Centre County’s only low-barrier adult shelter, meaning there are minimal entry requirements. The shelter maintains 19 beds, which are consistently full, with a waiting list that fluctuates between 15 and 50 people. Guests are provided with three meals a day, access to laundry and showers, and case management services to support long-term housing solutions.
In addition to the shelter, Out of the Cold operates four transitional apartments and activates its Code Blue shelter when temperatures drop below 25 degrees.
“Last year, during Code Blue nights, we averaged about 10 additional guests per night,” Gettig said. “These are often the same people waiting for a permanent bed.”
More than 80% of Out of the Cold’s guests have some form of income from working. But with high rent and limited transportation options, achieving independent housing remains difficult.
“I think there can be a huge stigma around homelessness,” Gettig said. “I think the unfortunate reality is that many of us are one paycheck or a few paychecks away from homelessness. I would love to tear down the stereotypes that surround homelessness.”
With music, food and community, Out of the Cold plans to not only inform, but also entertain.
“It’s a really fun event. We hope that our community will come together and enjoy being together.”
