Record Set at St. Margaret's House
ND Women Connect – St. Joseph Valley Past Event: Winter Walk to Benefit St. Margaret's House, February 2010 South Bend Tribune article by Sue Lowe, published February 22, 2010 Record Set at St. Margaret's House Winter Walk SOUTH BEND -- A record number of people, 502 of them, participated in the St. Margaret's House Winter Walk on Sunday. Pat Marvel, assistant director, said the warm weather probably helped. Temperatures got into the 40s. But she said the St. Margaret's House staff would like to think there are just more people interested in them. "It's so wonderful to see so many people," Marvel said. The Winter Walk raises donations for the organization, which helps needy women and children. The walk raised $43,200. The goal is $50,000. You can still donate. The program is in the Episcopal Cathedral of St. James at 117 N. Lafayette Blvd. You can donate by going to www.stmargaretshouse.org. Perri Hamma, a member of the Saint Mary's College golf team, said Kathryn Schneider, executive director of the program, is her aunt. So golf team members painted the laundry room last year and participated in the walk this year. Karena and Brucs Foss heard about the program from their neighbors so they and their 6-month-old daughter, Emma, went to meet the neighbors for the walk. Jocelyn Martindale was standing on a curb with a sign for Notre Dame Women Connect. It's a group of women affiliated with the University of Notre Dame who meet to talk and do various projects. Martindale is on the board of the Notre Dame Club of St. Joseph Valley. Julie Dowling, who works at Notre Dame, was one of the women there with Martindale. "The university encourages us to give back to the community," she said. Mark Wilson, the sponsor of the Java Cititan Club at Adams High School, said there were "50 or so" members of the service group at the walk. He said family members of a couple of students in the group worked with St. Margaret's House. So these students asked the others to help out. Wilson said the club donated $100 and some students made their own individual donations. Those weren't the only groups that participated. There were groups from the other South bend and St. Joseph high schools. The Saint Mary's College tennis team was also there, not to be outdone by the golf team. And those a just a few of the groups. Marvel said an average of 70 to 75 women and children use the program a day. They are served breakfast and a large lunch. And there are several programs to help the women find their way in the world. Marvel said the program uses a walk to raise money as a show of solidarity with their clients. She said 75 percent of them walk or ride the bus to get to the program. Staff writer Sue Lowe: (574) 247-7758 Go back to the NDWC St. Joseph Valley homepage. |