Great turnout for the 8th annual Recue Mission of Utica ‘Walk a Mile in My Shoes’ event in Utica.
UTICA, N.Y. – A few hundred people took a meaningful walk in Utica on Saturday, a very meaningful walk.
The Rescue Mission of Utica held its 9th annual ‘Walk a Mile in My Shoes’ event to raise awareness and funds to help homeless people in the area.
Officials from the Rescue Mission were joined by Utica Mayor Robert Palmieri and Assemblywoman Marianne Buttenschon as they led the large group that walked from Utica City Hall over to the Rescue Mission facilities, including its headquarters on Rutger Street.
Rescue Mission of Utica Executive Director Wendy Goetz says this is a huge fundraiser that will help so many people who are homeless in and around Utica, adding, “if it wasn’t for this community, the greater Utica area, the Mohawk Valley, we would not have the Rescue Mission of Utica, it is truly a community organization.”
Goetz says this turnout speaks a lot about our community.
“Our community is aware of the homeless situation and they actually care. They care enough to get up on a cold Saturday morning in upstate New York and walk a mile,” she said.
Among the walkers, Demetria Lunny, the volunteer coordinator for the Rescue Mission of Utica. Lunny says she came to the mission nine years ago for help and she says because she did, she’s turned her life around.
“They help a lot of people. It doesn’t matter who you are and where you’re from, any walk of life, just come to the rescue mission, they will help you,” she said.
No word yet on how much money was raised.
