Winchester Based Walk-A-Thon Is A Huge Success!

Sunday October 25, 2009 was the first annual National El Hogar Walkathon, held in Winchester, MA. Surrounded by days of rain and cold, Sunday turned out to be the most beautiful Fall day so far this year in the Boston area. The sky was blue, the sun was shining, the air was clean and we had at least 200 walkers participate in a 5K walk around residential and downtown Winchester. The walk began on the Town Common, with colorful balloons, blue tee-shirts, posters of El Hogar children, Marimba music playing (the music from the El Hogar Marimba CD), a burrito vendor, and free coffee and water.

The goal of this Walkathon was to raise $30,000, in honor of 2009 being the 30th anniversary of El Hogar Projects in Honduras. Although this goal is ambitious, we held to it as contributions came in, not only from Winchester and surrounding towns, but from across the country as well, as people responded to news of the event. As of the morning of the walk, we had raised almost $15,000, and another $9000 was received at the event. In the weeks since the walk, donations continued to come in and I am thrilled to say that we gave hit our target of raising $30,000!

The walk was organized primarily by two women at the Parish of the Epiphany in Winchester, although many volunteers made it all possible. All the planning and preparation activities will be documented, so other groups can use what was learned along the way. It was a high spirited, lively community event that involved not just the Boston area El Hogar churches, but people from the community at large as well. Two local newspapers wrote articles about the walk and El Hogar the week preceding the event, so the community had opportunity to participate. We encourage groups around the country to plan their own walks, in whatever month works best for them.

This event shows what a community of people – a global community – can do to help the poorest of the poor. These funds will add some welcome relief to a very precarious financial situation that El Hogar is in at this time. I am humbled and honored to see the response of love and generosity that the El Hogar community of supporters has shown.

I personally, and El Hogar collectively, extend a huge thank you to everyone who participated in this event in a great variety of ways, and made it such a success!

Liz Kinchen

Executive Director,
El Hogar Ministries