Holliston Businesses to Host Winter Walk

Submitted by Holliston Winter Walk. 

The annual Winter Walk, organized by students at  to raise money for the organization HomeStart, Inc., is set to take place on Mar. 4, at 1 p.m., beginning at the in Holliston. All the proceeds of the walk go directly to HomeStart, which works to prevent homelessness in the Boston area, and will help to pay for apartment rent as well as items such as furniture, linens, and flatware for new homeowners.

On Jan. 29, student organizers announced their goal of raising $10,000 in this year’s walk, which will prevent 20 families from becoming homeless, allowing them to start new lives. In order to achieve this, at least 200 walkers will have to register, with each raising $50.

"Winter Walk has become such a huge part of my life, and I couldn't imagine not being a part of this. It's opened my eyes to so much and made me really appreciate all that I have,” says student organizer Jamie Canavan. “Winter Walk isn't just some faceless project that you don't see results from. Every day our effort makes a difference. I know that my hard work is paying off instead of other volunteer positions where you work so hard to "hopefully" help and never know if you made a difference."

Not only does the walk benefit a worthy cause, but it also supports local students in taking an important leadership role in the community. They learn about the plight of homeless families in Boston and how to help them, developing into more compassionate and caring citizens.

Along with the monetary contribution to HomeStart, the Winter Walk team also works to gather "welcome home" baskets containing all the items that make a house a home, including silverware, candles, picture frames, and toaster ovens. Local businesses and walk participants support this endeavor with donations of new, unopened items.

Holliston student, Nina Doonan, organizes the collection and assembly of these baskets. After donating 16 last year, she decided to raise her goal for this year to welcome 20 families to their new homes.

 “I think the ‘Stop 20, Start 20’ student homeless initiative is brilliant,” says the team’s leader, Devon Kinkead. “I can't think of a more meaningful purpose to our work together than stopping 20 families from becoming homeless and starting 20 families off in their new homes with a Welcome Home basket.”

The walk’s success relies entirely upon volunteer participation from Holliston and surrounding communities. Please join us on Mar. 4 and help us change the lives of 20 families. To register and find more information go to www.winterwalk.org.