Aidan Curtis
NOT-FOR-PROFITS, help organisations, students and community members all braved Friday’s inclement weather to show their support for people experiencing homelessness.
Ruby’s Reunification Program held its sixth Pride in Your Stride walk on Friday, August 11, to show support for and raise awareness of people experiencing homelessness around the Limestone Coast.
The walk, which coincided with National Homelessness Week, symbolised what people experiencing homelessness go through on a daily basis.
Walkers started at Vansittart Park and made their way down Commercial Street, before turning at the Cave Garden / Thugi and heading to the library.
Ruby’s senior coordinator Sharon Gray said there was a wonderful amount of community spirit shown on the day through the number of donations and people willing to take part in the walk despite the weather.
“Come rain, hail or shine, this walk has to happen because if you’re experiencing homelessness and especially if you’re experiencing it where you’re sleeping rough, you don’t get a choice in the weather,” Ms Gray said.
“You don’t get to stay at home in the creature comforts and I’m really grateful these people have braved that weather.
“We are hoping policy makers and government may start making some good changes in the way they’re supporting these most vulnerable people.”
Ms Gray said there were a range of places throughout the community that were raising donations for the walk.
“We’ve been very supported as always by Tenison Woods College, Troy Bell’s office, Bunnings has hosted a basket for us,” she said.
“We’ve always been asking for the donation of shoes, and we have been accumulating those in the last few weeks from very generous people around the Limestone Coast.
“Once we collate all the shoes, we’ll then be distributing them to other community services within the Limestone Coast so they can freely give them away to people who may be doing it tough.”
At the end of the walk, participants were treated to a free barbecue cooked by the Lions Club, and Ms Gray said she appreciated the work of all involved.
“The Lions Club has been amazing and they’re cooking up a storm,” she said.
“Woolworths and Baker’s Delight in Commercial Street have been so kind in donating food for the barbecue, so we’re very grateful for that.”
