Solid turnout for 31st annual ShelterWalk
WOONSOCKET — Over 100 walkers came out for Community Care Alliance’s 31st ShelterWalk at River Island Park on Nov. 2, according to Communty Care Alliance (CCA), the lead organizer.
Funds raised benefit the Woonsocket Shelter and homelessness prevention programs of CCA.
Teams of walkers from local schools, churches and community organizations participated including Friendly Home, CVS, Valley Chapel of Uxbridge, Beacon Charter High School for the Arts, the Woonsocket High School Cross Country Team, Mount St. Charles Academy, Harvest Community Church, Harris School, NeighborWorks, Tufts and Voice of LAO-America.
Sponsors supporting the event were premier sponsors, Charlesgate, Mutual of America and Provider Group and event sponsors, The Globe Congregational Church, St. James Episcopal Church, Children’s Friend, St. James Baptist Church, Tufts Health Plan, Slatersville
Congregational Church, Aidance Skincare, Thundermist Health Center, Neighborhood Health Plan, St. Mark Lutheran Church, and Representative Stephen Casey.
CCA President/CEO Ben Lessing thanked walkers and introduced speakers including Mayor Lisa Baldelli-Hunt, and Congressman David Cicilline.
The Woonsocket Shelter has been in existence since 1987 and has held to the spirit of its founders to provide more than just a bed. The shelter houses 20 families and eight single women at any given time. In addition to emergency housing, residents are connected to resources such as basic needs assistance, employment and training programs, financial literacy and other services, which helps people to move on to permanent housing.