Last Saturday began with rain. It fell in clumps and the wind blew swiftly and to the South as over 150 people began taking the 4-mile walk from the Union Gospel Mission in downtown Salem to the Simonka House in Keizer. Families walked together. Children walked with parents. Cars honked and volunteers waved and helped lines of people cross streets. Kids rode in strollers.

Everyone moved themselves those four miles for the sake of those less fortunate, those searching for hope and help and freedom.

Courthouse Fitness members and employees were among the walkers and Courthouse Fitness was the title sponsor of the yearly Walk For Hope. Because life is beautiful and best lived when free and unhindered. We believe that fitness can offer this freedom. We also believe that kindness and charity and hope can help offer this freedom as well.

For the Union Gospel Mission, summer is usually the time when donations drop. The Walk For Hope aims to change that and inform the community that need does not decrease when the temperature rises–eventually. And as the rain clouds moved on and the sun began to show, the last walker came into the Simonka House parking lot and was welcomed by music and hugs and high-fives and thank-yous.

There is no vacation from homelessness. But, there is no shortage of good people in our city willing to help transform hopelessness into hope and freedom and a life lived beautifully.