3:37 p.m. - A local motel is helping travelers save money while benefiting the homeless in the community.

The Days Inn in Bismarck will give travelers a $5 discount off their next stay for donating money to the Ruth Meiers Hospitality House.

Kathleen Buford, general manager at the Days Inn, approached the Ruth Meiers house in setting up a fund raiser. After living here for a year, Buford was alarmed when the hospitality house almost shut down in December.

"There are a lot of less fortunate people in the world and we have so much and we take advantage of it. You may have a warm bed to sleep in, but there are others that don't," she said.

The Days Inn is going to kick off the program, Every Heart Needs a Home, this week in time for the McQuade's Softball Tournament and the fourth of July.

Buford said she doesn't have great expectations, but anything is a step in the right direction. There is no expiration date for the discount.

Last year 10,435 meals were served at the soup kitchen, 315 people were housed at the emergency shelter, 365 people were helped at the clinic and 3,000 to 6,000 pounds of food was distributed monthly from the food pantry.

Vicki Becker, director of development at the hospitality house, said she hopes what the Days Inn is doing will catch on with other businesses.

She said their budget is stabilizing, and the hospitality house is working on a fund-raising campaign so they don't get in the same situation as last year. The goal is to strengthen their current programs and in the future be able to purchase a facility for a men's and women's shelter.

The majority of their budget comes from federal grants and donations.

The Days Inn fund raiser is part of a community action project that it does every year. The Bismarck Days Inn also is a partner of America Responds with Love, a program associated with local businesses, nonprofit and governmental organizations.

The Inn donates lodging on an available basis, while local nonprofit and governmental organizations use the donated rooms to house people in need when no other community resources are available or appropriate.

(Reach reporter Kayla Cogdill at 250-8251 or kaylacogdill@bismarcktribune.net.)