Grace United Church has put out a call to action to other local faith-based organizations in Lambton County for the 10th Annual Walk a Mile event for the Women’s Interval Home of Sarnia-Lambton (WIHSL).
Noticing the absence of other faith groups at the annual fundraiser, Rev. Dr. Kenji Marui of Grace United Church issued a challenge: can these groups rally more participants and raise more funds than Grace United?
“It's some positive peer pressure,” says Marui. “It'd be great if another church came in and outperformed us but we're also going to give it our best to represent ourselves well.”
Grace United has been participating in the annual Walk a Mile event for the WIHSL for several years, and the reason behind choosing this as one of the many charities they help was a no-brainer.
“Our church is committed to gender justice and inclusion and care for the vulnerable, and the work of the Women's Interval Home certainly intersects on a lot of factors that way,” explains Marui.
The WIHSL is a non-profit charitable organization that has been in operation since 1977. They offer a 24-hour crisis support line, transition and housing support services, and child witness counseling among other things. Most recently, the group received approval from city council to request city staff to determine a piece of city land that could be donated to the project.
Marui and Grace United will be attending Walk a Mile on Saturday, November 2 at Lambton Mall hoping their challenge is accepted while also raising funds for a worthy cause. To sweeten his challenge, Marui is willing to provide worship leadership for the faith community that raises the most money, ultimately giving that other person a well-deserved break.
“I'm hopeful that it'll generate some more awareness at the very least,” says Marui.
Those who are interested in supporting Grace United Church in raising funds for the Women’s Interval Home of Sarnia-Lambton can donate here.
Event Details:
What: 10th Annual Walk a Mile
When: Saturday, November 2 at 10:30 a.m.
Where: Lambton Mall