Walk for Warmth helps dozens of Sault Ste. Marie-area families keep the home fires burning

You can help families in Sault Ste. Marie stay warm this winter by doing one very simple thing: Walking.

Every winter, Walk for Warmth helps dozens of Sault Ste. Marie-area families keep the furnace running in times when they cannot afford to do so on their own. A last line of defense in the home-heating struggle, Walk four Warmth provides funds to help defray costs to those who can meet specific criteria, and is administered by the Community Action Agency in Chippewa County.

Several fund-raising activities provide the revenue used to help pay heating costs, the best-known of which is the annual Walk for Warmth, scheduled this season Feb. 19 at 9 a.m.

"Last year's Walk raised about $10,000," says Kevin Riley, the Community Action Agency weatherization emergency services director. "We spent that and more helping people with their heating costs in 2009-10, but it was a relatively mild winter. If it is colder this season, we will need to raise considerably more. We certainly will have requests for more than $10,000."

Student groups and organizations at Sault Area High School, Lake Superior State University and other area educational institutions raise impressive sums for the event via challenges, contests and fund-raising activities.

Traditionally, the mile-long walk takes place on a Saturday morning in February, heading south from Avery Square on Ashmun Street to Easterday Avenue, and back north to Water Street, then proceeding back to Avery Square for chili, hot chocolate and awarding of prizes to participants.

Last winter, Douglas Lundstrom, 12, from the Sault, was the single most-successful fund raiser, which helped him win recognition as Volunteer of the Year in the Youth Division for the entire Upper Peninsula.

Lundstrom wanted to give back to the cause that helped his family with assistance in 2009.

Groups or individuals interested in raising funds for W4W in 2010-11 may access pledge forms by visiting the Community Action Agency's website.

Writer: Sam Eggleston
Source: Kevin Riley, CLM Community Action Agency