With temperatures descending for the weekend ahead, Muncie Mission looks to raise awareness of the difficult situations homeless people have to face on a day to day basis living without a shelter.
The Muncie Mission will celebrate its eighth annual "Walk a Mile in My Shoes" fundraiser on Saturday starting at 8 a.m. for check-in.
Participants will start walking at 9 a.m. after a brief ceremony at the Muncie Fieldhouse on the streets of Wysor and Walnut, and walk to the Muncie Mission Building at 1725 S. Liberty St. The Jackson and Main Street intersections with Liberty Street will be closed between 9 and 10:30 a.m. on Saturday.
Don Ford, director of development and event coordinator for Walk a Mile, said the event has two purposes. Aside from raising funds, Muncie Mission wants participants to be aware of what the homeless go through, including the weather.
"People ask us ‘why can't you have this event when it's nice out?' We plan it on February to raise awareness of he plight of the homeless in these situations," he said.
According to the National Weather Service, temperature is expected to descend to 25 degrees on Saturday.
Muncie Mission had to cancel the fundraiser in 2010, when about nine inches of snow feel on the morning of the event. Ford said this year they are hoping to go with the planned date as long as it doesn't snow much.
Walk a Mile is one of two larger fundraising events at the Muncie Mission, the other being a golf tournament that takes place in June.
"[The event is] very relevant to us. Especially now because of the economy, we put so much energy for it," Ford said. "Funds are very important because the services we provide are free of charge, so wee need funds to be able to support these programs.
Ford said the Muncie Mission is hoping to raise 75,000 in this year's Walk a Mile. Last year, more than $55,000 were raised for the Muncie Mission. More participants are expected to sign up this year. About 2,200 community members showed up to participate.
During the event, a golden sneaker award will be given to the top fundraising team and to the top attendance team. To qualify, funds must be turned in at the Muncie Mission office days prior to the event or before 9 a.m. on Saturday.
Teams and individuals are still encouraged to sign up online on days prior to the event and can also show up to register on the day of the event at 8 a.m. There is no fee to sign up.
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