"My father and mother have walked, my brother and I have walked, and now our kids are walking.....it is a way to stay connected with God's work and serving your neighbors in need, getting to know your fellow Episcopalians and broadening ones horizon ......and you get exercise as well,” exclaims Phi Matthews, former Board Member and parishioner at Church of the Resurrection, Pleasant Hill.

Saturday, October 13, 2007 more than 250 walkers will assemble at Grace Cathedral to walk 7.5 or 12 miles through San Francisco. Following the 7:00 am registration and breakfast, Bishop Marc will lead visitors to Episcopal Charities' Partner Agencies, that make a crucial difference in the lives of poor, oppressed  and endangered individuals in need in San Francisco.  Walkers will view homeless shelters, food pantries, affordable housing, hospital clinics, and chaplaincy services, a resource center for immigrant families and a recovery center. www.episcopalcharities.org

 “When one walks early in the morning through the tenderloin and south of market and towards the Episcopal Sanctuary (ES) you see people literally in the gutter of SF ......the stories of so many individual lives. When one walks into the Sanctuary and sees what it tries to do and hear the stories and the statistics on how ES helps, it is moving, a very spiritual experience.   And every stop brings you into contact with another agency, another story. “ Phil Matthews.
 
Walking this year are clergy, youth groups, church teams, and community supporters.  Registered teams of 12 or more receive a refund of 25% of the money they raise to be used for their local church outreach ministries.  For more information visit call 510-844-0642 or email This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it
 
"I do this (walk) to help the unfortunate because they are people too and they deserve a chance to be sheltered, taught and employed." states Kevin Charette, Bay School high school student.   “Without EC’s support the homeless and others in need will not get the chance they deserve to start a new life, a better life. And why not spend your Saturday and a few hours collecting money to help the ones in need? For the last three years, All Saints Episcopal Church, San Francisco, has sponsored Kevin Charette donating thousands of dollars to support services for impoverished residents in the San Francisco Bay Area through Episcopal Charities' Partner Agencies.