A western Kentucky town celebrated Mardis Gras on Saturday, March 1 while raising funds for a children’s nonprofit organization.
The Murray, Ky. Mardi Gras celebration was hosted by Towing for Toys and the MKY Balloon Company. Towing for Toys is a nonprofit created by Max’s 641 Towing and Service to donate Christmas gifts to underserved children in Calloway County.
Monty McCuiston, president of Towing for Toys, oversees all fundraising for the organization, and he coordinated the Mardi Gras event. McCuiston said this event will help give gifts to over a thousand children in Calloway County.
“We host events all throughout the year to raise money for Towing for Toys, which provides Christmas for nearly 1,400 less privileged children throughout Murray and Calloway County,” McCuiston said.
Mardi Gras is a Christian Holiday dating back thousands of years to Pagan Spring and Fertility rites, he said.
“Traditionally leading up to the days of Lent, carnival goers would binge eat on rich, fatty foods in anticipation of several weeks of fasting,” he said. “Many celebrate to prepare and celebrate and overindulge themselves before Lent.”
Murray’s Mardi Gras will play a crucial role in raising funds for Christmas assistance, said Andrea Morris, Murray Independent School District’s Family Resource and Youth Service Center (FRYSC) coordinator.
“The proceeds will go directly toward purchasing holiday gifts for children attending local schools,” she said. “Many families in our community are unable to provide their children with Christmas presents, and this initiative will ensure that no child is left out this season.”
Morris encounters a variety of basic needs at Murray High School on a daily basis.
“The most impactful way to support the Murray Family Resource Center is through donations,” she said. “We are always grateful for any contributions to help meet the needs of our students and provide them with the resources they need to succeed.”
Towing for Toys raises funds for Christmas donations, and the Mardi Gras ball will help contribute.
“By supporting this event, we are kick-starting our efforts to make this Christmas brighter for those in need through our holiday assistance programs,” Morris said.
The Mardi Gras celebration was a masquerade ball theme. According to the invitation, attendees could expect to experience the lively atmosphere of New Orleans right here in Murray.
The event was at 7 p.m., March 1 at The Grove of Murray. Advanced tickets were $20 or $25 at the door. Attendees were required to be 21 or older to attend.
