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Last updated on Monday, April 8, 2013
(BLOOMINGTON) - Come help make the 11th Annual Homeward Bound 5K Walk a record success.
The event is Sunday, April 14 at The Waldron, Hill and Buskirk Park (formally Third Street Park) for a day of celebration and good cause.
The Homeward Bound 5K Walk is a fun event with free food and entertainment that raises money for non-profit agencies around Bloomington that fight homelessness.
Registration and pre-walk entertainment kicks off at noon.
Tie your shoes tight and get ready for the 5K walk at 1:00 p.m. After the walk, return to the Park for entertainment, free food and a team award ceremony. The Homeward Bound 5K Walk is a great event that benefits our entire community.
Register today by visiting our website at http://www.homewardboundindiana.org/bloomingtonor Walk find us on Facebook and Twitter for more information. Or if you would like more details, contact the Homeward Bound Committee Chair, Kathy Mayer, at 812-349-3467.See you Sunday, April 14th! Help us fight homelessness one step at a time! See you Sunday, April 14!
Summary:
What: 11th Annual Homeward Bound 5K Walk
When: April 14th, 2013
Noon-3:30 Registration starts at noon
Where: Waldron, Hill, and Buskirk Park (formerly Third Street Park) in Bloomington
Walk Timeline and Route:
- Registration starts at noon, with musical entertainment and words from the VIP's before the walk
- Step off is at 1 p.m.
- After the walk there will be additional entertainment, food, and fun.
- Walk route goes through beautiful downtown Bloomington and Indiana University's campus in addition to some of our city's most vibrant neighborhoods.
Attractions:
- The walk is the largest collaboration in Bloomington among nonprofits working to end homelessness.
- The walk is free and open to the public!
- The minimum donation for a t-shirt is $20, and on April 11 that increases to $25
- There are activities for everyone, including Kid's Island for children.
- There are pet-friendly activities - including Pet's Island and water bowls for pets at the water stations along the walk route
- Main Stage Entertainment: Nationally recognized singer, songwriter, and instrumentalist, Maria Sarah and local rising stars The Sad Sam Blues Jam.
- There will be entertainment for the walkers along the route. Enjoy the walk with Route Entertainment provided by: Ben Fowler and The Jefferson Street Parade Band, Indiana University Hoosierettes Dance Team, Entwyned, Raging Grannies, Kent Johnson, Hoosier Hotcakes - Mitch & Eileen Rice, Ron Smith, and warm up exercises with Jazzercise!
Background:
- Project of the Indiana Association for Community Economic Development (IACED). Series of annual events taking place across the state. Since 2003, Homeward Bound has raised over $3 million around the state, making it Indiana's largest grassroots fundraiser with the ultimate goal of ending homelessness.
- Bloomington's Homeward Bound walk is sponsored by the City of Bloomington, the Community and Family Resources Department, the United Way, IU, Ivy Tech, IACED, as well as the 12 social service agencies involved.
- Over the past 10 years, Homeward Bound Bloomington has raised $574,690 for social service agencies
- All of the benefiting agencies are involved in alleviating poverty and homelessness in the community, such as offering emergency shelter, food, and mental health counseling.
- Benefiting agencies are: Amethyst House, Centerstone, The Community Kitchen of Monroe County, Hoosier Hills Food Bank, Martha's House, Middle Way House, Monroe County United Ministries, Inc., Mother Hubbard's Cupboard, Stepping Stones, Shalom Community Center, and Youth Service Bureau of Monroe County. New Hope Family Shelter is the newest addition to Homeward Bound this year.
- Last year 900 walkers, with an additional 150 volunteers, raised about $68,922.
- 100% of the money raised from the walk goes directly to these agencies, and is 100% volunteer driven.
Stats:
All our agencies either work with the homeless or the citizens experiencing or fighting homelessness. 365 students in the Monroe County School Corporation have reported being homeless in 2012 -- an increase from the 226 reported in 2011.
Nearly 25% of people in Monroe County live below the poverty line, one of the highest rates in Indiana.
Due to the recent economic recession, the past 3 years have witnessed a rise in the number of homeless men, women, and children staying at area shelters.
How to Contribute and Be Involved:
- Follow Homeward Bound on Facebook or Twitter!
- Corporate sponsorships
- In-kind donations
- Monetary donations
- Form a team and walk
- Volunteer on the day of the event - either as a performer, helping us set up/clean up, at water stations, etc.
- Donations can be made now and up to 30 days after the walk.
- Register at the Homeward Bound Website: http://homewardboundindiana.or
/bloomington or the day of the walk.
Review and Praise for Money for the Cause:
Homeward Bound Walk Committee welcomes Honorary Spokesperson Pam Dewig. Pam a client from Amethyst House is grateful for all of the services she has received, and for the opportunity to help turn her life around.
"I thought I could do it alone, but once I realized I couldn't they were there to help," she said, "Homeward Bound is a wonderful opportunity for me to give back, and help show our community there is successes coming from working with these agencies".
Local music group Entwyned will provide rhythm to walkers at the annual Homeward Bound 5K for the third time this year. The crowd as well as the cause is inspiration for the band.
"We offered to play that first year to express our support for efforts to end homelessness, and we continue playing each year because we love the high spirits expressed by the walkers," said Twy Berthard of the ensemble.
She said she believes the issue of poverty in Bloomington needs this kind of attention. "Homelessness is a problem, and a complicated one," said Berthard. "It's important to address the root causes and provide both short-term and more strategic support."
Mayor Mark Kruzan "I would not presume to understand what life would be like without the comfort that I always have a place to go where I will be fed, sheltered and loved unconditionally. Unfortunately, there are many in our midsts who live without, or on the brink of losing, the comfort of "home."
Fortunately, Bloomington is blessed with many local non-profit agencies whose main goal is to help those less fortunate.
Agencies like Amethyst House, Centerstone, Community Kitchen, Hoosier Hills Food Bank, Martha's House, Middle Way House, Monroe County United Ministries, Mother Hubbard's Cupboard, New Hope Family Shelter, Shalom Community Center, Stepping Stones, and Youth Services Bureau who participate in one of Bloomington's most respected event - the Homeward Bound Walk give hope to many in our community."
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