Alexandria’s Town Crier, Ben Fiore-Walker, center, poses for a photo with participants in the StepALIVE! Walk-a-Thon Oct. 20 at First Christian Church.
Participants from United Bank pose for a team photo at the StepALIVE! fundraiser Oct. 20 at First Christian Church.“We continue to see an elevated level of need from people who seek access to food and other essentials.”
— ALIVE! executive director Jennifer Ayers
More than 450 participants took to the streets of Alexandria in the 43rd annual StepALIVE! Walk-a-thon, helping the nonprofit raise more than $88,000 to serve at-risk communities.
“Not only is this event ALIVE!’s largest single fundraising day, but it also creates a space for our community to come together and take a step toward alleviating food insecurity and housing insecurity in the City of Alexandria,” said ALIVE! Executive Director Jennifer Ayers, “We continue to see an elevated level of need from people who seek access to food and other essentials, and the only way that ALIVE! has been able to sustain our programs that serve roughly 20,000 people each month is through strong community partnerships and the ongoing support of people in Alexandria.”
The 5-mile and 5k routes led walkers past many of the congregations that participate in ALIVE!’s work throughout the year. Fifty faith communities work together to provide guidance, volunteers, and financial support to the organization.
Both Congregation and Community Teams were recognized with trophies for their fundraising efforts on behalf of ALIVE! Congregation Team Community Praise Church and Community Team Cameron Station Striders Plus were recognized for recruiting the largest teams of walkers, while the Congregation Team from the Unitarian Universalist Church of Arlington and the Community Team made up of Church of Washington Street were recognized for raising the most donations for this event.
“It’s always inspiring to see hundreds of people gather in support of ALIVE!’s work to provide a safety net for our neighbors in need,” said event committee chair Jennifer Ferrara. “We have such a caring community and events like this help to highlight the people who are working together to make a difference.”
In addition to the walk through Alexandria, this event featured music from the Alexandria Citizens Band and Mountain Melody Band, a warm up lead by Sarita Bartaula of Pacers Running, remarks from Alexandria Mayor Justin Wilson and Alexandria’s Town Crier Ben Fiore-Walker, and a 50/50 Raffle.
Sponsors included 67 congregations, local organizations, and businesses including Voyager Level Sponsor Blaszkow Legal, and Trailblazer Sponsorships from Westminster Presbyterian Church, The Old Town Festival of Speed and Style, and Amazon.
ALIVE! is the largest organization preventing food and housing insecurity in Alexandria The organization serves 20,000 individuals each month through key programing areas of food, housing, and financial assistance.
Added Ferrara, “As we enter this season of giving, I hope that people in our community consider donating food or giving financially so that ALIVE! can continue this important work.”
www.alive-inc.org