Alpha Phi Omega, a service fraternity, is reaching out to a local charity in hopes of helping those with less in Athens.
All you have to do is drive five minutes down the road and you see there are kids running around with no shoes on
said Patty Guzowski, junior and chair of the Alpha Phi Omega 5k, which is happening tomorrow.
The Gimme Shelter 5k will raise money for Good Works, known as a Community of Hope the only homeless relief agency in Athens and surrounding counties.
We took Good Works because we wanted to do a fundraiser for a local charity said Guzowski, because we're in Appalachia and we have so many needy (here.)
Guzowski said in past years Alpha Phi Omega had donated to international charities, but because of the economy, the group wanted to help a local organization.
Goodworks Inc., established in 1980, is a Christian organization that offers outreach to the impoverished in and surrounding Athens through various means, including The Timothy House, a shelter for homeless people in the rural community.
Sophomore and Alpha Phi Omega member Carolyn Hemenway said that since the service fraternity has chosen a local organization to sponsor with the 5k, she hopes that more local people will get involved.
We'd like to see what we could do if we got it up close and personal
Hemenway said.
All members of Alpha Phi Omega are participating in the event, Hemenway said.
Currently about 500 people are pre-registered for the event, Guzowski said.
The walk takes place at 9 a.m. on Saturday morning and will start at Ping Center. The cost is $15 and covers registration and a T-shirt for each participant. During the event there will be refreshments and a raffle.
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Libby Cunningham
