We had about 400 walkers and about 50 volunteers which is a great and wonderful encouragement to all of us who form the COMMUNITY OF HOPE.  We walked in two groups of about 200 people and did two educational stops.  Each walker was provided with a 'homeless identity' of a real person's story from the last year. Only the names and cities and ages were changed. We also provided a word puzzle for the kids to help them better understand the qualities that make a house into a home and the difference between 'houselessness' and 'homelessness'. 
     The 1.5 mile walk took us from First United Methodist Church, across College Street and down Mill Street. Both groups stopped for hot chocolate and coffee along the way, hosted by Christ Lutheran Church and a house-Church in the neighborhood. We posted about 50 signs and posters with news articles about the history of Good Works over the past 25 years for people to read as they walked along. 
     We then proceeded past #3 Elliott Street where Darlene and I started Good Works in 1981 and then around Stimson Avenue to the former Kenney Memorial Wesleyan Church where both groups stopped for a presentation by a former resident and current volunteer Kathy Beeman.  Kathy did a drama with Catherine Lachman, the Director of Caregiving at Good Works, about her own story of how she became homeless and how she found the Good Works Timothy House. Then, Keith shared a short talk about the cost of living, minimum wage and how much life costs for people who work 40 hours a week and only make about $800.00 a month. 
     Our second stop was in partnership with The Gathering Place, a local day-time halfway-house for people who have experienced mental illness. This stop took place in the basement of the First Christian Church in Athens. There were four former residents of The Timothy House who shared how the Good Works Community of HOPE has impacted their lives dating back to the early 1980s.  The Walk ended at First UMC with a rice and beans lunch provided by the Boy Scouts and a short talk by Terry Anderson; Athens area businessman, former AP journalist and former hostage in Lebanon during the 1980s. Terry talked about Good Works, about poverty in SE Ohio and what we all must do to help our neighbors in need.
     For those who walked, THANK YOU! For those who sponsored walkers and contributed to Good Works, THANK YOU! Many thanks to Matt Cooke and the amazing Good Works volunteers who made this event so successful!! The total amount of money raised was about $29,699.48* which was far less than the two previous years.  We are so very thankful to all who helped with this amazing project. If you have any comments, photos or thoughts you'd like to share, please let me know! Just e-mail us at goodworks@good-works.net. 

Love is a verb, 

Keith Wasserman 

*All funds raised from the WALK go directly to support the Good Works Timothy House. This project of Good Works costs about $200,000.00 to fund each year. We receive a grant for about $65,000.00. Combined with the WALK funds, this means we still need about $105,000.00 this year. The Timothy House served 216 men, women and children in 2004, up about 50 from the previous year.

Click here for more pictures from the Walk for the Homeless 2005