This is a national event, but each walk is organized locally and any money raised in a community stays in that community.
The funds also must be used in direct assistance for the poor and cannot go into a rainy-day fund or general fund. And there are no administrative fees associated with the event.
The Springfield District Council has combined the resources of its conferences in Clark County to organize a 5K walk that will get under way at at 1:30 p.m. on Saturday, Sept. 25.
The walkers will gather at the SVDP Thrift Center and Pantry and proceed along local streets — Raffensperger, Lexington, Harrison and East — to a well-deserved rest at St. Joseph Parish Center at Kenton Street.
The return walk will be Kenton, Burt, Van Buren, Belmont, Lexington and Raffensperger.
The Council determined that an urban walk connecting the Thrift Center with the location of its Christmas-basket distribution was appropriate, since money raised with this event will be used directly to help defray costs of the program.
Last year, nearly 1,400 Christmas baskets were handed out and expenses exceeded donations by more than $12,000.
The Council will have Friends of the Poor T-shirts available printed with the Society’s national sponsors and also our local sponsors: Foreman-Blair and K&L Contracting Services.
Refreshments will be available at both ends of the walk. For those who would like to do half the distance, a shuttle service will provide transportation from St. Joseph’s back to the Thrift Center.
Walk-day sign-up and check-in will begin at 10:30 a.m. and continue up to the start of the walk.
Last year 16,000 walkers representing 409 SVDP councils or conferences in 36 states raised more than $1.2 million, which was about 50 percent higher than the inaugural walk in 2008.
Springfield did not participate in either of these walks, but wants to make up for lost time by having a super event this year.
Those interested in participating or making a pledge can log on to www.svdpfriendsofthepoorwalk.org and make Springfield’s district council the beneficiary.
Registration forms also are available at the Thrift Center or from Society members. Tony at (937) 322-2643 and Dan at (937) 969-8892 can provide forms and more information.
Anthony Bickers is a member of the Society of St. Vincent de Paul and currently is president of Holy Trinity Conference in Springfield.