Walk for the Homeless raises awareness and support

By Kendra Simpson

A simple walk set for Friday afternoon aims to help make a world of a difference for those facing homelessness.

The 13th annual Walk for the Homeless begins at 4:30 p.m. Friday next to the Downtown Health Center, 503 S. Sixth St. The walk is free to join, but participants can register and purchase a T-shirt online at the event’s website at www.stjwalkforthehomeless.org/.

Every November, Missouri Western State University’s Organization of Student Social Workers hosts the walk to raise awareness about St. Joseph’s homeless population. On the walk, participants journey through Downtown St. Joseph, collect trash and learn about the various social services available to those in need.

“Every year we get the community together to donate and walk,” Mitzi Teliczan with Northwest Health Services said. “They actually have an opportunity to walk the walk that many non-housed folks have to walk every day to get food, shelter, get the resources that they need to survive in the community.”

T-shirts cost $20 and all proceeds collected will go toward helping those in need find jobs, obtain birth certificates and I.D.s and get help with transportation.

“I think one of the biggest barriers to homeless folks to not seeking services is the stigma around it,” Teliczan said. “I think just to see the community folks out walking and saying ‘Hey, we support you, we’re here for you and we’ll do whatever we can’ means a lot.”

To learn how to help the St. Joseph homeless population, visit Community Missions’ website at https://cmcstjoe.org/.