GSA 4th Homeless Walk through Historic Leesburg
Save the Date” September 20
Join The Good Shepherd Alliance
in our annual Walk for the Homeless.
Celebrate our 25th year anniversary with the Community
in meeting the needs of the homeless and indigent.
4th Annual Walk for Shelter through Historic Leesburg
A Family Event to Benefit Homeless and Indigent Families
Saturday, September 20, 2008
Living in Northern Virginia, it's sometimes easy to forget that there are people living in this area who struggle without one of life's most basic necessities: affordable housing. We here in Loudoun County will have the opportunity to be part of the solution to that problem. The Good Shepherd Alliance, Inc. in cooperation with the Fannie Mae Foundation will support the homeless in Northern Virginia by sponsoring the 4th annual Walk-a-thon through the historic section of Leesburg, Virginia. All proceeds benefit the Loudoun homeless at The Good Shepherd Alliance shelters for women, children and families.
Pre-registration Check-in and Event Day Registration begins at 8:00 AM.
The Walk for Shelter begins at 9:30 AM.
Starting point is the Douglass Community Center, 407 E. Market Street, Leesburg, VA.
Walk through historic Leesburg, and back to Douglass Community Center Pavilion. Walk for Shelter starts at 9:30 AM at the Douglass School Pavilion on the corner of Sycolin Road and East Market Street. The 1.2 mile walk continues west on East Market to Loudoun Street, then on to King Street, through historic Leesburg, back to East Market , then over to Harrison Street and back to Douglass School.
Preregister & Save: Adult walkers who pre-register save $5 off the registration fee
Pre-registration fee: $25 for adults, $15 for youth (age 25 and younger)
Event Day Registration fee: $30 for adults, $15 for youth (age 25 and younger)
Special Feature: INOVA Medical Health Van on site @ Douglass CenterFree Screenings: Blood Pressure – Bone Density – Vision – Body Mass Index
For registration information visit www.loudounhomeless.org, under “The 4th Annual Walk” choose the “Leesburg Registration Page” link or call GSA at 703-724-1555.
Bring your children and grandchildren. Walk with us through Historic Leesburg. GSA will provide an educational presentation for both adults and youth that raises awareness about homelessness. Adolescents especially gain appreciation for the many blessings provided by their own families.
We’re anticipating a good turnout on Sept. 20th in support of The Good Shepherd Alliance Shelter program for homeless women, children and families in Loudoun County.
Opportunities abound to bring your friends and family. Public Schools and Home School groups are invited. Churches, Youth Pastors, Sunday school classes, Catechism classes, Bible Study Groups, Choirs & Musicians, civic organizations, MOMS Clubs, etc. are all invited.
Fannie Mae has provided a wonderful incentive to advance the cause to help the homeless. GSA will receive from Fannie Mae a 20% return over and above money we raise on Sept. 20.
You can request that GSA provide Walk for Shelter flyers for your church secretary, youth pastors, bible school etc. Underscore this effort with prayer and with God all things are possible!
GSA Walkers in Leesburg, Va.- photo courtesy of Fernando Hernandez
Last year
The 3rd Annual Homeless Walk for Shelter through historic Leesburg, Virginia took place on Saturday, September 22nd. Sponsored by the Good Shepherd Alliance (GSA) and Fannie Mae Foundation, the “Walk to Shelter Homeless” started at 9:30 AM at the Douglass School Pavilion on the corner of Sycolin Road and East Market Street. The 1.2 mile walk continued west on East Market to Loudoun Street, then on to King Street, through historic Leesburg, back to East Market then over to Harrison Street and back to Douglass School. 120 people walked (31 children) in the event to raise funds for homeless programs and to foster volunteerism in service to homeless people. Previous walks drew 61 and 35 registered walkers in 2005 and 2006. State Delegate Dave Poisson, Leesburg Town Councilman Marty Martinez, State Senate candidate Patricia Phillips, Broad Run School Board member Bob Ohneiser and Chairman County Board of Supervisors candidate Mike Firetti participated in the walk.
The unseasonably hot and muggy weather made the short 1.2 mile walk feel a little longer as the large contingent of people slowly and peacefully worked their way through downtown Leesburg early on Saturday morning. GSA Representative John Cullinane provided the large crowd with a pre-walk opening statement. He discussed the fact that many people who experience job loss, illness or loss of a loved one may end up being homeless. He spoke to the crowd about the importance of assisting homeless people to become self sufficient and productive citizens. He explained that giving of our time and resources empowers all of us as a community. He cited Isaiah 58: 8-11.
"Then shall your light break forth like the morning dawn. Your healing shall spring forth speedily. Then you shall call and the Lord will answer; you shall cry, and He will say, “Here I AM.” If you extend your soul to the hungry and satisfy the afflicted soul; then your light shall dawn in the darkness, and your darkness shall be as the noonday. The Lord will guide you continually, and satisfy your soul in drought. And you shall be like a watered garden, and like a spring of water, whose waters fail not."
GSA is seeking to provide quality bed space and critical programs to meet the needs of the growing homeless population by consolidating its thrift store and administrative offices to one Ashburn location. GSA is proud of its cooperative relationship with Loudoun County and Leesburg Town Government. GSA is grateful to the Leesburg Town Council, Leesburg Police and Parks and Recreation for their cooperation and coordination of this event.
GSA needs the continuous support from our dynamic business community to supply much needed materials, services and funding to maintain and upgrade our facilities. GSA strongly believes that assisting those less fortunate with their most basic needs fosters hope and goodwill among our diverse and fast growing community.
The Good Shepherd Alliance maintains offices on Ashburn Road in Ashburn Village, family shelters in Arcola and North Leesburg, a house for homeless pregnant women in Purcellville and a 5,800 square foot thrift store in Sterling.
Note: The mission of the Help the Homeless Program is to raise awareness of and fund for Washington Metropolitan area organizations that are working to prevent and end homeless. This is the 20th year, the Fannie Mae Corporation created the Help the Homeless Program to respond to the growing needs of homeless people in the Washington Metro area. The program – a fund-raising and awareness raising effort includes mini walks such as the one by GSA in Leesburg on Sept 20 and culminates each year in a Walkathon on the National Mall. This year’s the Walkathon is Saturday November 22. You can spend a wonderful day with your friends and family walking for The Good Shepherd Alliance and help the homeless right here in Loudoun county. Please sign up on our web site at loudounhomeless.org. Every dollar donated and raised goes back to the Good Shepherd Alliance with Fannie Mae picking up the costs for the events.
May God continue to bless our great community.