Walkers Needed to Help Fight Poverty Housing

Habitat for Humanity looks to top last year’s effort

Habitat for Humanity of the Greater Harrisburg is planning to be a major part of this year’s Highmark Walk for a Healthy Community slated for Saturday, May 22nd at 9:00 AM on City Island in Harrisburg.   A record number of walkers showed up last year for Habitat and the organization  plans to make 2010 even better.

“We had more than 100 walkers and raised over $7,500 last year,” said Mark Mattern, Habitat for Humanity Director of Development.  “We plan to build on our base from last year and we already have several new groups ready to walk with us. We are always looking for new groups and individuals as well.  Habitat’s goal is to eliminate Poverty Housing here in Central PA and each and every walker moves us closer to that goal.”

Last year, Habitat for Humanity had board members, Women Build members, youth groups, businesses,high schools, churches, builders and individual volunteers all get together to make the day a big success.

The top fundraising team last year was the youth group called Aftershock.  These young people represented the congregations from the Bowmansdale Church of God and the Mt. Pleasant Church of God.  There were 17 representatives for the Aftershock group and they alone raised close to $1,850.00.

Hershey High School’s Habitat for Humanity, an affiliate with Habitat for Humanity of the Greater Harrisburg Area, also had an outstanding showing in its first year as a participating group with 17 students representing the school at the walk.

The money raised by Habitat for Humanity will go a long way toward eliminating poverty housing here in Central Pennsylvania.  All funds earned on the day of the walk will stay here in the Harrisburg area and support local projects.