Steppingstone, Inc. held its fifth annual 5K Walk for the Homeless on August 18, 2007, to ensure that the First Step Inn at 177 North Main Street will be able to provide daytime hours this coming winter.  This year's event drew over 200 participants and raised over $45,000 including a $10,000 donation from Willow Laboratories. "We're hoping that the funds will be sufficient for us to also provide some workshops for homeless adults to help give them the information and skills they need for self-sufficiency," commented First Step Inn program supervisor Rosa Medeiros. The annual event raises funds for homeless men and women in recovery, helping provide them with educational opportunities, counseling, proper nutrition, bedding and other services to help keep them clean, sober and safely sheltered. Click here for the Herald News article about the event. Click here for pictures of last year's event. For further information or to make a donation anytime, contact Kathy Clark at 508-674-2788, Ext. 110. To see what others are doing in Fall River to prevent homelessness, click here.
 

(Top row, left) David Clarke listens to Mayor Edward M. Lambert, Jr. as he welcomes the many participants to the walk and thanks them for their efforts to raise funds for homeless services. (Top row, right) One of the participants in the walk is greeted by the Bank Five dancing dog along Bank Street as Fall River Tribune editor Jack Gregory takes their picture. (Middle row, left) Walkers pass the International Culinary Arts Institute on Rock Street. (Middle row, right) Walkers pass the  the First Step Inn on North Main Street. (Bottom row, left) Billy Diniz cross the finish line first in front of Steppingstone on North Main Street as Alyssa Medeiros and Kelly Paris hold the tape. (Bottom row, center) Lydia Couto looks over the many donated gifts to select her prize for raising money. (Bottom row, right) J.P. Torres, Dawn Nardi and her daughter Brittany, and Ann Marie Denapoli enjoy pizza and soda donated by Dominoes Pizza.