Last Saturday, January 19th, concerned citizens hit the streets of Athens, Ohio in the Good Works Sixth Annual Walk for the Homeless.  The event raised $32,000 for Timothy House, a homeless shelter in the area.

There were three different routes to choose from, one for children and two for adults.  Rather than just walking a route, participants were challenged to think about the plight of homeless.  Signs, videos and interactive activities were available.  The Athens Messenger reported:

The Kids Walk featured a homeless camp made up of former residents of the Timothy House who were there to tell their stories as kids asked questions. “Children are the next generation of decision-makers on issues that matter to the poor,” Wasserman said. “Children have a pure motivation that’s not encumbered by politics.”

“It was amazing how the people were so articulate, kind and willing to share their stories,” said Jamie Linscott, an adult volunteer who went on the Kids Walk. “They didn’t fit any stereotypes of homelessness and poverty. It made it real, but not scary for the kids.”

The 3rd Annual “Walk the Talk - Shelter the People” walk is being held in Hawaii from Wednesday, November 7th through Friday, November 16th. The walk is 10 days and 130 miles.

According to the organizers, more than 3,500 people are living on the streets and beaches of Hawaii. 35% of these are children. November is National Homeless Awareness Month. The 10 day walk occurs over the island of Oahu and helps to raise both funds and awareness of the homelessness issue in Hawaii.

The walk has 92 walkers pledged on the walk with $14,847 also pledged in donations. The walk began at the State Capital of Hawaii. The walk also ends on Day 10 at the State Capital.

Source: walkthetalkhawaii.org

The Habitat Bicycle Challenge has decided to cancle their cross-country rides that were very successful fund-raisers for Habitat for Humanity Worldwide. The Habitat Bicycle Challenge board met with representatives for Habitat for Humanity of Greater New Haven, CT. They decided to end the bike trips.

In 2005, Rachel Speight was fatally hit by a car while biking in Western Kentucky. In 2006, Alexander Capelluto was fatally hit by a 10-wheel truck  in West Haven during training for the cross-country trip. This past summer Dan Lewis was hit by a car and placed into a coma for several months while biking in Kansas. Lewis is now out of intensive care.

“Despite our best efforts, bicycling cross-country is a dangerous undertaking and accidents happen,” the HBC board said in a statement after the meeting. “The HBC family has been deeply affected by recent accidents leading up to and on our trips.”

The HBC added, “We can no longer endorse and organize the trip in its current form for these riders. The Habitat for Humanity of Greater New Haven board of directors, the Habitat staff and the ride’s student organizers have concluded that the benefits of this bicycle ride are not worth the inherent risks that accompany placing 90 cyclists on American roads.”

The cross-country trip was started in 1994 by Anthony Brydon and seven friends who biked across America. They raised funds to build a home for a New Haven, CT family. The annual cross-country bike trip had become the single largest fundraiser for a Habitat for Humanity affiliate in the U.S.A.. Approximately $2.4 million had been raised through the event. The Habitat Bicycle Challenge is focusing on creating a new event.

Source: New Haven Register