Subscribe
Community
Walkers turn out to help end homelessness
Annual event funds LifeStyles Safe Nights
Wednesday, Dec. 2, 2009
 Click here to enlarge this photo Staff photos by BETHANY RODGERS
Participants of the Walk to End Homelessness set out on their three-mile hike, which began and ended at the La Plata Town Hall on Nov. 21.
|
E-Mail This Article
Upbeat music and smiling faces brightened the path at Charles County's seventh annual Walk to End Homelessness in La Plata.
Walkers met at the La Plata Town Hall early in the morning Nov. 21 and trekked three miles from there, traveling on Charles Street, Glen Albin Road and St. Mary's Avenue before ending up where they started. Once there, they were greeted by cheers and refreshments.
But completing the walk wasn't the only thing 554 participants could feel good about. All the registration fees from the event went to support the Safe Nights program, which offers shelter to the county's homeless people.
"It's exciting, seeing this many people believing in what they're walking for," said Sandy Washington, executive director of LifeStyles of Maryland, the organization that provides Safe Nights.
Donations are still coming in for this year's walk, but last year, the event raised about $17,000, according to Diane Warren, chairwoman of LifeStyles.
The program gives the county's homeless population food and a place to sleep by transforming churches into temporary shelters. Each week from November through March, a different church hosts the program and contributes meals and volunteers.
Washington said the economic downturn has increased the number of homeless families.
"These are folks that had a mortgage a year ago," she said. "Our homeless, many are working, but they can't find a place to live."
Washington added that hopefully, the walk highlighted the problem of homelessness in Charles County.
Melissa Mohler of La Plata, who participated in the walk, also said there is a need for heightened awareness of the homeless in Southern Maryland. As an employee in the Charles County Department of Social Services, Mohler said she sees the effects of the recession firsthand.
"[Homelessness] is a huge problem in Charles County," she said.
Signs posted around the La Plata Town Hall — with messages such as "A safe night wakes up a better tomorrow" — sounded a positive note about the issue of homelessness, and the mood of the event was optimistic. After the walk, participants gathered around the hall, and some of them even started dancing to music played over the sound system.
Anthony Griffith, one of the bystanders, said he was glad he participated in the walk with his daughter.
"I figured it was a good cause," he said. "I'm looking forward to running instead of walking next year."
He said the event was impressively organized, featuring door prizes and refreshments.
"What else can you ask for?" he said.
brodgers@somdnews.com
