No matter the weather – sunny, rainy, hot, cold or snowy – people all need a place to lay their heads at night and to nourish themselves with a good meal.
About three dozen members of two churches joined together in their annual “Walk for the Hungry/Homeless” on May 14 -- a cool, misty day. They began their 10-mile hike at , 7863 St. Peter’s Road, Macungie, and ended at Huff’s Union Church, 540 Conrad Road, Alburtis.
Walkers also had the option of a shorter five-mile hike, or a three-mile hike, both of which started and ended at Huff’s Church.
Find out what's happening in Emmauswith free, real-time updates from Patch.
The Reverend Jerel Gade, pastor of St. Peter’s Church, sent the walkers off with a word of prayer, asking God to watch over them and keep them safe during their journey.
As they made their way along the windy, narrow country roads, those walking could enjoy the beauty surrounding them, as well as talk to and joke with one another.
Find out what's happening in Emmauswith free, real-time updates from Patch.
Kaitlyn Spangler and her friends, Brittany Thomas and Kara Weller, took the lead, jogging most of the 10 miles, and checking the map periodically to be sure they were on the correct route. The girls are on the field hockey team at Brandywine Heights High School and thought that, in addition to helping the hungry and homeless, they could get in some training as well.
As the walkers made their way past on Sigmund Road, they could see volunteers off in the distance readying the grounds for summer use.
“This is good exercise,” said Gina Kidd as she and her sister turned up Sigmund Road to continue walking. “And we’re doing something to help the hungry and homeless at the same time.”
Bryan Miller and Karen George brought along their dog, Tuckerton, for the walk. “He loves this [the weather],” they said, “and probably wants to be even wetter.”
There were a couple of rest stops along the way. Carl and Minerva Arner’s home was the first stop at 2.5 miles into the walk. "We’ve been doing this for nearly 30 years,” said Carl. The couple served a variety of drinks and encouraged the walkers to make use of the bathroom while there. “It will be a while until the next one,” said Minerva.
The two churches have been doing this outreach program for about 30 years. There have been only two years since the walk began that the churches were unable to hold the walk.
Each church decides what to do with its own donations:
- St. Peter’s Church will donate the approximately $600 it will raise to the Zionsville Food Pantry.
- Huff’s Church will divide its estimated $600 between Friend, Inc., Boyertown Open Line, Pennsburg Multi Service and the Allentown Rescue Mission.
A light lunch was served at Huff’s Church to the tired walkers when all returned. Several said, “I can’t wait to soak my feet.”