The Winter Walk Boston Launches
That man who sits outside your ATM machine day in and day out, in the same, dirty and tattered clothes? He is someone’s brother. That woman who sleeps under several blankets and bags in the doorstep of your office building? She is someone’s mom. Those kids with collection cup in hand so high they can barely sit upright just outside the doorway of your T stop? They are someone’s children. Each of these individuals has a unique story — homelessness is their state of being, not their identity. All of them are our neighbors in need, and we can and must help them.
Many of us take for granted having a warm and safe place to wake up in every day. But that is the experience of far too many individuals in Boston. The Winter Walk is a 2-mile walk through the streets of Boston during its coldest month of the year. This first annual Winter Walk will finish on Copley Plaza where participants will share a meal together and also with members of many of the City’s organizations addressing the needs of Boston’s homeless community and some of their clients, and hear the real stories and struggles of this population.
All proceeds raised from the Winter Walk in this first year will be donated to five organizations that collectively serve a broad population of homeless individuals:
· Boston Healthcare for the Homeless Program — providing comprehensive health care and services to over 12,000 homeless men, women and children each year.
· Pine Street Inn — providing a comprehensive range of services, including permanent, supportive housing, job training and placement, emergency shelter and street outreach to more than 1,900 homeless men and women each day.
· Bridge Over Troubled Waters — providing a comprehensive range of services for youth ages 14 to 24.
· Brookview House — helping homeless and at risk families learn the skills necessary to break the cycle of homelessness and poverty.
· Y2Y Harvard Square — a student-run overnight shelter providing a safe and affirming environment for young adults experiencing homelessness.
For more information and registration, visit our website here. Also, check out our Facebook, Twitter and Instagram. We hope you will learn more about this incredible event.