Hundreds of locals will spend this winter without a home.

Bigger Vision, a local charity, is hosting a holiday fashion show to raise money for a shelter it hopes to open by the winter. EVAN STICHLER/Staff

“We only have one emergency shelter and we need more,” said Caroline Gearhard, a senior psychology major from Powder Springs. “It’s inexcusable because there are 400 on the streets of Athens this winter without shelter — without a warm place to go.”

Inspired to help the city’s large homeless population, Gearhard joined the board of Bigger Vision, a charity dedicated to providing temporary shelter to those without a permanent residence.

Last year, Bigger Vision purchased a new building located on North Avenue, which can accommodate 35 nightly guests — double the capacity of the previous shelter.

With help from some local businesses, the organization hopes to open the shelter this winter.

Because it’s entirely donation-funded, Bigger Vision partnered with Belk to organize a holiday fashion show to raise the needed money.

The idea for the fashion show was Leneria Edwards’, the human resources associate of the Athens Belk store.

“[She] listed us as her charity and wanted some competition within Belk,” Gearhard said. “Leneria said she’d give us the clothes and make this happen. It was really a blessing.”

With Belk’s and other sponsors’ donated resources, Gearhard and others used personal pleas to their friends and rounded up about 15 local women who volunteered to model in the show.

“[We] just went out and asked if our friends wanted to model,” Gearhard said. “We had so many beautiful friends willing to hop in and help and they were really enthusiastic about it. We have different women from different walks of life.”

The models range from young to old, and include mother-daughter teams, local businesswomen and college students.

“Caroline asked me to do it,” said Eleshea Borders, a University alumna. “The benefits for the homeless shelter are honestly the only reason I agreed to do it. I wouldn’t have done it otherwise.”

But despite her reservations and inexperience with modeling, Borders is excited to donate her time to the charity.

“I don’t know anything about modeling or fashion,” she said. “But because it’s for the shelter I definitely said yeah.”

Dawn Blankenship, manager of the Athens Belk, was eager to donate all of the holiday clothing the models will be wearing, which will feature a wide range of styles including boots, sweaters, pajamas, evening wear and maternity clothes.

Mitzi Smiley, another Belk employee, will be one of the two master of ceremonies.

“I know it’s going to be fantastic” she said. “I’ve never hosted a show or anything, but I actually model myself.”

And Belk employees aren’t the only ones involved: Carrabbas donated enough hors d’oeuvres to serve the 200 guests Gearhard is hoping for.

“UGA is so much of Athens’ population,” she said. “There are so many students and I know we could reach our goal if people would buy tickets and show their support.

The show will also feature a performance by DanceFX concert dance company, as well as giveaways including concert tickets, a Foundry gift certificate and a gift basket.

“It’s a really under-served population,” Gearhard said. “This is a great way students can show their support for the community, by buying a ticket, coming out and being there. It’s going to be really fun.”

HOLIDAY FASHION SHOW

Where: Georgia Theatre

When: 2-4 p.m.

Price: $25 with student ID, $35 without