Lincoln residents will have a chance to walk for a good cause on February 1. Alynn Sampson is executive director of Matt Talbot Kitchen & Outreach and says their third annual ‘Shine The Light’ event will be held at 6 pm at Antelope Park.
There will be a 1-mile family and group-friendly walk, where participants will step into three stories and witness the journey of homelessness. “One of our core values is compassion,” Sampson says. “We invite the community to join us in seeking to understand and alleviate the suffering associated with homelessness, especially during the winter months.”
A half-mile loop marked with luminaries will take walkers around the playground, Auld Pavilion Recreation Center, and Veterans Memorial Garden. Participants are encouraged to walk the loop two times.
According to last year’s Point-In-Time Count, there were 542 individuals in Lincoln experiencing homelessness. Among those counted, 50 individuals were unsheltered, living outside in a vareity of places, including cars, parking garages and abandoned buildings. Sampson says last month in Lincoln, 108 people experienced homelessness for the first time.
“The needs are ongoing and becoming more complex,” Sampson says. “This walk is a great chance for us to share stories of homelessness and illuminate how Matt Talbot’s efforts are helping individuals have a safe place to sleep at night.”
Learn more about the event and register for the walk by clicking here.
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