GALLERY ONLINE: Ruby’s Reunification Program Pride in Your Stride Walk
WALKERS acknowledged National Homelessness Week on Friday by participating in Ruby’s Reunification Program’s first annual Pride In Your Stride walk.
The walk started at 8am on Friday morning with people walking from the corner of Vansittart Park to the ac.care Mount Gambier Community Centre for a free breakfast event.
Ruby’s counsellor Dawn Cardona began developing the Pride In Your Stride idea two years ago.
The movement started out with young people who were involved at Ruby’s painting shoes to donate to the homeless.
Ms Cardona said the idea then grew and developed into a walk.
“Homeless people walk great distances every day to find shelter,” she said.
“The Pride In Your Stride walk aims to let them know they are not alone and the community stands with them.”
In addition to the walk, the public was also encouraged to bring along shoes to donate to ac.care for those in need.
Member for Mount Gambier Troy Bell took part in the event and said he believed the work Ruby’s was doing in the community was invaluable.
“I am always happy to support worthy causes like this in our community,” he said.
“It is great to see Ruby’s and ac.care get together to tackle this issue head on.”
With the event hailed a success by all in attendance, Ms Cardona hopes next year will bring a bigger and better presence.
“We really only expected 10 people to turn up this year, so the fact we had 50 was amazing,” Ms Cardona said.
“But next year we are planning for an even bigger event.
“We want the whole region to recognise homelessness and band together to fix the problem.”
