35th Annual Good Friday Walk for Hunger and Homelessness Tomorrow

The 35th annual Good Friday Walk for Hunger and Homlessness, an ecumenical fundraiser to support state-wide efforts to end hunger and homelessness in Rhode Island, will step forth from multiple sites on Good Friday morning at 9:00 a.m., March 29th.

Organizers of the walk, who comprise clergy and lay leaders of many faith traditions, previously announced a goal of recruiting 1,000 walkers, each raising a minimum of $100. to achieve an overall fundraising goal of $100,000.

10 “stepping out” sites – in Providence, North Providence, East Providence, Cranston, Coventry and Newport -- from places of worship have been organized with distances ranging from four to 10 miles.  Most walks will culminate at a rally at the State House at 11:00 a.m.

The  route will begin and end in Newport at St. Joseph’s Roman Catholic Church and travel through Newport neighborhoods recognizing organizations that serve the neediest residents. Courtesy vehicles and rest stops are planned.  Volunteers/walkers from St. Barnabas, St. Lucy’s, St. Joseph’s and more groups are confirmed.  Walk registration/check-in will be in the Church hall basement starting at 8:30 a.m. on Friday 3/29, and the walk will commence after a short invocation at 9:00 a.m.  To get a pledge sheet or volunteer, contact Rob Vitello, St. Joseph’s Walk Volunteer Coordinator, 401-862-4917, rvitello@cox.net.

 “We invite all Rhode Islanders to join us on Good Friday to walk to raise awareness and, most importantly, funds to decrease the incidence of hunger and homelessness, not just locally, but internationally, said Michael Payton, spokesperson. “The more walkers we have and the more sponsors they recruit, the more money we’ll be able to raise to help agencies meet their food and shelter needs.”

To get complete information about the walks and to make a generous donation, log on to the Walk’s secure website: www.GoodFridayWalkForHungerRI.org.

Other Locations and Information

Saint Patrick Roman Catholic Church (244 Smith Street, Providence)         NEW SITE!

This is a new site near the State House, and a route is being developed to take walkers through area neighborhoods before they arrive at their destination.  Call 421-7070 for more information.  

St. Anthony’s Roman Catholic Church (1413 Mineral Spring Avenue, N. Providence)   NEW SITE!

This is a new site that takes walkers from North Providence, Johnston, and Lincoln, and Woonsocket through neighborhoods

in the North End of Providence before arriving at the State House. Call the Director of Confirmation for more information, 258-7961 (cell).  Off street parking. 

Calvary Baptist Church (747 Broad Street, Providence)

The route takes walkers through sections of the Elmwood neighborhood before joining the walkers from St. Michael’s.  

Call South Providence Neighborhood Ministries, 461-7509, for more information.  Off street parking.

St. Michael’s Roman Catholic Church (239 Oxford Street, Providence)

Walkers travel through South Providence and the Broadway neighborhood, joining walkers from Calvary Baptist Church

along the way, until they reach the Smith Street side of the State House.  Call 781-7210 for more information.  Registration begins at 8:00 a.m.  On-street parking.

People’s Baptist Church (1275 Elmwood Avenue, Cranston, corner of Park)

This route takes walkers through Roger Williams Park to the southside of Providence, down Broad Street, through Elmwood neighborhoods to the State House. Off-street parking. Call 467-8220 (office) or 477-6700 (cell) for more information. 

Crossroads Rhode Island (160 Broad Street, Providence)

A route for those who cannot manage the longer distances, walkers will travel through downtown to the State House.  Enter through the parking lot on Stewart Street.  Call 521-2255 x 326 for more information.  Registration begins at 9:00 a.m. 

Haven United Methodist Church (200 Taunton Avenue, East Providence)

Walkers cross the Seekonk River on the Henderson Bridge, to walk through the East Side and Fox Point, then up North Main and Smith Streets. Call 463-8697 for more information. Parking in the lot behind the church, and enter from the back. 

St. Martin’s Episcopal Church (50 Orchard Avenue on Providence’s East Side)

Walkers will travel through both the East Side and the southside neighborhoods before going to the State House.  Call St. Martin’s at 751-2141 for more information. Registration begins at 8:00 a.m.  On-street parking.

Blessed Sacrament Roman Catholic Church (179 Academy Avenue, Providence)

Walkers travel through Olneyville before going to the State House.  Call 497-6204 for more information.  Registration begins at 8:00 a.m.  Parking available.

St. Anthony’s Roman Catholic Church (549 Plainfield Street, Providence)

From the Silver Lake neighborhood, walkers will come down Plainfield Street, onto Killingly, Hartford, Glenbridge, Manton, and Atwells Avenues, up Valley to Smith Street and on to the State House.  For information, call 943-2300.

More à

Coventry Walk Sts. John & Paul Roman Catholic Church is the stepping out site of a 10 mile walk, punctuated with the Stations of the Cross.  There is a rest stop along the way and beverages.  Call 821-4780 for more information.  Registration is at 9:00 a.m.