A live band, a barbecue, and docents with animals from the David Traylor Zoo will be part of activities surrounding the annual Walk for Life this year.
The walk, beginning at 10 a.m. Saturday, will begin at Shiloh Home, 615 Congress St., to Sixth Avenue, on to Commercial north to 12th Avenue, and south on Merchant Street to Sixth, and back to the house.
Walkers now are accepting pledges for the fund-raiser, which will benefit the new Shiloh Home of Hope, according to Alicia Wyatt, a member of the Shiloh Development Team. The goal of the walk is to raise $30,000.
Founders of Family Life Services also will be honored, in recognition of the organization’s 20th anniversary this year.
Shiloh will not only be a haven for unwed mothers, it will offer life-skills lessons, classrooms, and counseling. It will be operated under the auspices of Family Life Services, which will have offices in the basement of 615 Congress St., the former home of Galen and Beth Miller. The home also held office space for Miller’s orthodontics practice. Millers are discounting the price of the house as a donation to the cause.
Cindy Rhudy, FLS director, said in an earlier Gazette story that many young people lack the environment to make life changes. Those involved with Shiloh Home of Hope want to change that.
“We don’t just want to teach them to change diapers,” Rhudy said. “We really want them to break out of the destructive patterns and build new life skills.”
They plan to help the young women become qualified for employment and teach them how to choose clothing for interviews and careers, how to present themselves, how to be effective parents, and other skills they may not have learned, including how to develop a good self-image.
FLS will move into 615 Congress St. on July 1 and will continue fundraising efforts until the full purchase price is raised.
Tours of the home will be given on Saturday and the barbecue will be served after the walk ends, between 11 and 11:30 a.m. until 1 p.m. Donations will be accepted for meals. Balloon characters will be part of the entertainment for children. The band Altered to Offer (A2O) will perform at the event.
Wyatt said that about 30 people have signed up for the walk and are gathering pledges from sponsors. Walkers represent the 12th Avenue Baptist Church, First Friends, Grace United Methodist, Lamont Church, Life Church, Messiah Lutheran and Victory Fellowship.
Others are welcome to walk or to become sponsors. More information may be had by calling Wyatt, 343-0328.