HAYS, Kan. -- To benefit the Mary Elizabeth Maternity Home of Hays, three students in COMM 490: Issues and Applications in Communication at Fort Hays State University will host a Family FUN-draiser Carnival from 4 to 6 p.m. on Saturday, April 25, at the Hays Recreation Commission, 1105 Canterbury Drive.

Activities include moon bounce, face painting, basketball shoot-out, arts and crafts, and scooter obstacle course. Popcorn, cotton candy and snowcones will also be available for purchase.

Carnival tickets are $1 each at the door. Donations of office and school supplies, non-perishable food items, and teenage clothing and hygiene products will also be collected. All donations must be new and in original packaging.

Founded in 1997, the Mary Elizabeth Maternity Home provides unwed mothers who are between the ages of 10 and 21 the resources and support to give their unborn children a future.

The staff, 24 hours a day, year round, provides life-skills training, counseling and opportunities for work or school completion for up to eight mothers and two babies at a time. While church attendance is required, residents may choose their own church homes.

"Many of the girls who arrive at the home come with only the clothes on their back," said Rene Pfannenstiel, Mary Elizabeth staff.

The carnival is sponsored by Qdoba, FHSU Bookstore, Eagle Radio, The Golden Q, Ashley Furniture, Heartland Realty, Bon-A-Pet-Treat, Daylight Donuts, Remax Pro and McDonald's.

For more information, contact Alexis Pfannenstiel at arpfannenstiel3@mail.fhsu.edu, Jessica Marston at jgmarston@mail.fhsu.edu, or Sophia Young at sryoung4@mail.fhsu.edu.