Leah Harding

Members of the University of Florida women’s track team helped serve food at St. Francis’ homeless shelter.

Grace Marketplace is asking for the community's help to raise $50,000 in 50 days. The organization will be launching a social media campaign that will begin Dec. 11, which aims to move residents from the shelter into houses and apartments. Supporters can be seen on the corner of University and Main Street, holding cardboard signs asking for money and support, along with the hasthtag, #FundGrace.

Grace Marketplace is still waiting for the city of Gainesville and Alachua County to provide funds in order to keep the shelter open and pay for its staffing. Since October, Grace Marketplace has had to pay out of its pocket to keep providing services.

With only a verbal commitment from the city and county, Grace MarketPlace has continued to provide the staff and the funding to keep the pavilion open since October.

Grace Marketplace plans to renovate its kitchen with grant money, eventually opening Grace Cafe to the community in which the homeless cook and serve food.

University of Florida and Florida State University students react to FSU's campus shooting, reaching out through social media as hundreds gathered on campus in Tallahassee to hold vigils.

Due to cold weather, St. Francis House opens its doors for extra individuals to sleep inside. St. Francis, which houses families and children, requires individuals to have a "blue card," which lists whether the person has any outstanding arrest warrants or is a sex offender.

Gainesville's homeless must present a blue card issued by the Gainesville Police Department to prove they are free of arrest warrants and are not registered sexual offenders or predators.

A local shelter offers a place to stay for homeless veterans and veterans overcoming a drug or alcohol addiction.

Expecting a weekend cold snap, Gainesville homeless shelters like St. Francis House and Grace Marketplace are asking for donations to prepare for a surge of homeless people looking to stay warm.