Annual ShelterWalk Supports Woonsocket Shelter The late Father Blain, co-founder of the Woonsocket Shelter, to be honored

Community Care Alliance is hosting its 27th Annual ShelterWalk on Saturday October 17th at River Island Park in Woonsocket. Registration begins at 9:00 am, and the walk kicks off at 10:00 am. Proceeds support the Woonsocket Shelter and homelessness prevention programs.

This year’s ShelterWalk is dedicated to the late Father Lionel A. Blain, pastor emeritus of St. Joseph’s Church in Woonsocket and co-founder of the Woonsocket Shelter in 1989. “Father Blain was an early advocate for a Homeless Shelter in Woonsocket who joined with Paul Dempster and area clergy to see the Shelter become a reality,” said Nancy Benoit, CCA Board of Directors Vice Chair. “Father Blain had a deep concern for the homeless and needy families in Woonsocket and consistently worked to find solutions to improve their lives.”

Over 25 years later, the Woonsocket Shelter provides a critical safety net for the homeless. In addition to emergency housing, the shelter program provides supportive services to help families address issues that contributed to homelessness so they can get on a path to a better life. Due to the support from the shelter program, 84% of the individuals who left the shelter last year were able to move to permanent or transitional housing.

Individuals, families and teams from schools, churches, businesses and neighborhoods are encouraged to participate. CBIZ, Provider Group, KLR, Mutual of America and UnitedHealthcare Community Plan are the premier sponsors of the event; other sponsorship opportunities are available. For more information about how to get involved as a sponsor, walker or volunteer, please visit www.CommunityCareRI.org or contact Wendy Pires at 401-235-7245.