St. Vincent de Paul will hold its annual Walk for the Poor Saturday morning. This is the nonprofit’s only fundraiser of the year.
The organization distributed $84,000 of direct assistance to Juneau residents last year, the majority of which came from donations. The walk alone raised $17,000.
St. Vincent de Paul offers rental, utility and medical assistance to individuals and families. During the holidays, it gives out gifts and hundreds of food baskets.
St. Vincent de Paul also runs a thrift store and shelter.
“We use the thrift store to support our homeless shelter and we use donations to support our aid to people who do not live in our shelters, to the community as a whole,” says general manager Dan Austin.
About 70 people participated in the Walk for the Poor last year. Austin says the short walk offers an opportunity for fun and contemplation.
“Try to envision yourself as living on $5,000 a year or something like that. Envision yourself living like that and walk a mile in their shoes,” Austin says.
Registration for Saturday’s Walk for the Poor is at 9 a.m., walk begins at 10 from St. Paul’s Catholic Church. The walk is about a mile long. There is no fee to register.
