There’s nothing like walking to support a cause that improves the local communities. On Saturday, June 14, residents of Northwest Indiana joined together to participate in the Walk for Sojourner Truth House a ministry sponsored by the Poor Handmaids of Jeus Christ.
Sojourner Truth House is a day center that provides services and resources to individuals and families who are experiencing homelessness and hunger. Angela Paul, executive director of the Sojourner Truth House, credits this event to being the ultimate fundraiser to satisfy the needs of the community.
“The main purpose of our walk is so we can raise money to support our clients with our day services and permanent supportive housing,” Paul said. “This is the biggest fundraiser, and pretty much our only fundraiser, that we do every second week of June.”
This year marked the 26th annual walk for the Sojourner Truth House. The event first started in 1997 and has been bringing in money to support the people of Gary yearly, with the exception of a brief hold on the event during the COVID-19 pandemic.
The ultimate goal of the fundraiser is to raise $110,000 in total to offer support individuals and families experiencing homelessness and hunger, provide essential resources, and create a community of compassion.
“We’ve been doing this for a long time, and it really means a lot to bring the community, volunteers, our donors, and our staff together,” Paul said. “The fundraiser is the biggest thing, but it’s also a chance for interaction and collaboration in this community. Sojourner Truth House is a pillar in this community, and this helps us get the word out about what we do and how we service people.”
Pastor Greg Lee of Suncrest Christian Church serves on the board of the Sojourner Truth House. He’s very supportive of this fundraiser and the impact it creates by helping the Gary community.
“They’re making an impact in Gary for the women and their families who are at risk for homelessness that come here during the day to get services, transportation, food, mental health, development for jobs, and more,” Lee said. “I’d do anything I can to help the Sojourner Truth House accomplish its mission.”
The most heartwarming element of this walk for Lee was the incredible turnout and participation from the community.
“When you look around here, you can see the diversity and you see the community,” Lee said. “When people from Northwest Indiana come together for a cause that can make a difference, it’s absolutely fantastic. We have probably 50 people from our church here this morning. I see all these other board members, I see people from the community of Gary, and I see a number of clients that are being helped.”
Scott Yahne serves as a board chairperson for the Sojourner Truth House. He admires the way
that this annual event promotes togetherness and spreads positivity to everyone involved.
“It’s such an important event for us to spread awareness and thank the people who assist us in the community,” Yahne said. “Our staff is working hard here and does so much for us. It takes a lot to run a special event like this that’s all about empowering people.”
Yahne is also thankful for the contributions that the sponsors, such as the Poor Handmaids of Jesus Christ and many others.
“The sponsors do a tremendous job of enabling us to have this type of facility and outreach to the people that we help,” Yahne said. “The sisters help make this all happen. They were the reason we were able to start this, and they are always our guiding force. It boosts our spirits by being together on mornings like this.”
Paul echoed the same sentiment about the sponsors. She cherishes that the Poor Handmaids of Jesus Christ have been dedicated to both the walk and the Sojourner Truth House for several years.
“The Poor Handmaids of Jesus Christ are not only our sponsor, but also our donors,” Paul said. “They believe in us, and it means a lot to us that they have stood by us for so long.”
Everybody stretched together prior to the walk, which included a fun dance with the Dance Team from Calumet College of St. Joseph to get the participants warmed up.
The Gary Corvette Club opened up the race for all of the walkers. Participants walked for about one mile, with everybody finishing within a couple minutes of each other. During the walk, supporters cheered for the participants with Pom Poms.
“This event is awesome, because we can bring the community together, all while we get to walk through parts of the city,” Paul said. “It’s a beautiful day for walking, and we’re happy to bring awareness to what we do here too.”
Sponsors and Community Partners had information booths in an open area next to the point where the walkers started and finished. Prior to the walk, the event also included an opportunity for kids to play 10 different carnival games to earn tickets to redeem prizes with. Many kids also played basketball on a hoop next to the carnival games before the walk.
Want to help?
Learn more about Sojourner Truth House or make a gift at sojournertruthhouse.org. Your support brings dignity, resources, and hope to our neighbors in need every day.