Walk For Homes 2024 Will Help The Fuller Center Help Build Communities

LARCHMONT, NY — Your chance to take a literal first step to make our world a better place is here and now.

A fun time on the Sound Shore this weekend will allow the hard work of helping to give families the dignity of moving into a home they can call their own.

The Fuller Center of Greater New York will celebrate the 23rd anniversary of its annual "Walk for Homes" fundraising event on Sunday, but never in the last few decades have the organization's particular needs been quite so urgent.

As cold weather begins to settle on the Sound Shore, the New Rochelle-based chapter of the group is especially dedicated to help local families, seniors and veterans afford homes in the greater NYC area. Sunday's walk will help to support those efforts.

Executive Director of The Fuller Center for Housing of Greater NYC Jim Killoran told Patch about how "the exodus" continues as New York is the number one state where people leave.

"We love NY and the tri state and want to see homes, interest-free, no down payment, like we see our homeowners Danny pay off this month," Killoran explained. "Homeownership, lower taxes for seniors and vets, and Gen Zs need homes! The exodus has to stop, with real affordable homeownership!"

Support for Fuller Center NY's vital work also helps disaster flood homes in New York and Connecticut.

"Our DART (Disaster Assistance Response Team) team is rehabbing flood homes in Greenburgh, and helping give out sandbags (1600 giving out so far) as well as helping many families rehab homes devastastated in Connecticut, " Killoran told Patch. "In Naugutuck, Oxford, Southbury."

This fall's "Walk for Homes" is being organized in conjunction with The Catholic Committee of Larchmont.

"Walks in history bring people together to unite, to raise support and to help fight for New Yorkers, with our feet, and hammers swinging in coming weeks," Killoran said.

The two-mile walk, planned as more of a pleasant stroll, will start at 1 p.m in Constitution Park (120 Larchmont Ave. in Larchmont), head towards the Long Island Sound, and then circle back. Registration begins at 12:30 p.m.

This year's walk honors:

• Anne Avenius: a senior who has volunteered for 30 years building homes.
• Jim Lasser: a Vietnam vet who has helped Fuller build homes for and with vets for years.
• Danny Anderson: a homeowner who will celebrate paying off his last mortgage payment, interest-free, with Fuller this month.

To join the fun for a good cause, just send a text to 914-406-3357 or email Killoran at this address. High schools, companies, families or individuals can participate, and can also make a team to raise money by texting "WE BUILD" to 44321.

Those hoping to support The Fuller Center's work don't necessarily need callused feet to help out — there are a number of other ways to contribute. It's easy to sponsor those who are completing the circuit with a tax-deductible donation, by simply texting "WE BUILD" to 44321 or going to the website here.

Find out more about the Fuller Center on their website.