Neighbor News
Local Leaders Join Walk for Warmth
Mayor Biss, Police Chief Schenita Stewart and others will kick off annual tradition to raise funds to provide shelter
Local dignitaries including Mayor Daniel Biss and Police Chief Schenita Stewart, will help lead Interfaith Action of Evanston’s Walk for Warmth, to be held Jan. 18. The event raises funds critical to providing safe shelter for those experiencing homelessness during the coldest months of the year as well as providing food and other necessities to those in need.
Walk for Warmth kicks off at First United Methodist Church at 11 am on Martin Luther King Day of Service and will be raising money through donations and sponsorships to support IAE’s Winter Shelter, Hospitality Center and soup kitchens. Walkers will travel a roughly two-mile circuit of churches in downtown Evanston, each of which serves as a host to the shelter in a three-week rotation.
In addition to Mayor Biss, six City Council members will walk at the front of what is expected to be a crowd of hundreds, including Clare Kelly, Juan Geracaris, Krissie Harris, Jonathan Nieuwsma, Eleanor Revelle, and Melissa Wynne. Also supporting or walking are Evanston Community Foundation President and CEO Sol Anderson, and Kimberly Krull, Division Chief, Evanston Fire Department.
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NAACP President Rev. Dr. Michael Nabors, pastor at Second Baptist Church, will offer a blessing for those assembled.
Walkers raise money through donations and sponsorships in what is an ideal project for the MLK Day of Service, honoring Dr. King’s legacy and fight for economic justice. The funds being raised will enable IAE to keep its shelter doors open every night from mid-October through April, providing life-saving warmth to those without homes during the coldest months of the year. The money also helps fund Interfaith Action’s Hospitality Center, which offer safe and warm places for those who don’t have a home during morning hours and afternoon/evenings respectively.
Find out what's happening in Evanstonfor free with the latest updates from Patch.
Participation in the Walk for Warmth on Wheels is open to anyone. Many of the more than 40 faith communities which comprise IAE will be assembling teams of walkers, including people of all ages.
Individuals interested in participating in the parade or donating to support it can find further info here: https://tinyurl.com/IAE2023W4W. Advance registration is strongly encouraged as there will be limited registration on-site the day of the event.
