On April 28, Eisenhower Avenue in Alexandria, Va., was packed with hundreds of local runners who had laced up their shoes for a good cause.
They were there for The Run for Shelter, an event held to raise awareness about homelessness in the affluent Virginia suburb and benefit a local shelter that has served the community since 1988.
Carpenter’s Shelter, the largest shelter in Northern Virginia, helps more than 1,000 men, women and children every year, offering not only beds but guidance, education and life-skills training that help people overcome homelessness.
“Over 90 percent of the people [that comes to Carpenter’s Shelter], once they complete the program, they never go back to being homeless,” said Kelly Andreae, the organization’s director of development.
“They can always come back and get help if something goes wrong, so they don’t end up back on the street or in a shelter.”
Funds from the Race for Shelter will help sustain the shelter’s work, Andreae said. A total of 525 runners participated in the race, and through registration fees and donations, it raised exactly $38,385.49.
Andreae was thrilled. “I think it went awesome,” she said.
Even as the last runner passed the finish line, she was looking ahead to next year’s race.
“We love the support from the community,” Andreae said. “People have such big hearts.”
To read about one of the participants click here.
To read an interview with some of the runners click here.
