Nearly 1,000 students will walk around the grounds at Cabin John Middle School on Friday, Oct,. 13, in support of three charities that are part of the annual Fannie Mae Foundation Help the Homeless Walk. Last year, Cabin John families and staff donated almost $7,500 to three charitable organizations. This year, walk organizers hope to top that figure.
All donations go directly to charities, and are supplemented by challenge grants from the Fannie Mae Foundation based on the number of walkers who register. All Cabin John students will walk around the school grounds as part of their physical education classes. The walk is a school tradition. Students have been participating in the program for nearly 10 years.
Prior to the walk, students will take part in assemblies to learn more about the causes of homelessness, with an emphasis on the fact that a significant percentage of the homeless in Montgomery County are children.
The Cabin John Middle School walk will generate funds for: Bethesda Cares, From Streets to Skills, and the National Center for Children and Families (Greentree Shelter). All three organizations focus on helping those who are homeless and working to prevent those in dire economic straits from becoming homeless. Students also will be bringing in toiletries for the clients of these organizations, and will participate in various collection drives throughout the school year to address other needs.
Those who wish to support Cabin John’s Help the Homeless Walk can make a direct donation to "Help the Homeless," attn: Charlotte Corbett, Cabin John Middle School PTSA, c/o Cabin John Middle School, 10701 Gainsborough Rd., Potomac, MD 20854. Donations will go to support the three charities mentioned above.