A host of local dignitaries, led by Mayor Daniel Biss, NAACP President Rev. Dr. Michael Nabors, several City Council members and numerous city officials have signed on as walkers or supporters of Interfaith Action of Evanston’s Walk for Warmth, to be held Monday, Jan. 17.

The event, which kicks off at First United Methodist Church at 11 a.m. on MLK Day of Service, will be raising money through donations and sponsorships to support Interfaith Action’s Emergency Overnight Shelter and other programs to aid those experiencing hunger or homelessness. Walkers will travel a roughly two-mile circuit of churches in downtown Evanston, each of which serves as a host to the shelter in a three-week rotation.

In addition to Mayor Biss, Ald. Claire Kelly, Ald. Melissa Wynne, Ald. Eleanor Revelle  and Ald. Peter Braithwaite have all pledged support. Also supporting or walking are Evanston Police Department Interim Chief Rich Eddington; Evanston Community Foundation President and CEO Sol Anderson; and Kimberly Krull, Division Chief, Evanston Fire Department.

Walkers raise money through donations and sponsorships in what is an ideal project for the MLK Day of Service, honoring Dr. Martin Luther King’s legacy and fight for economic justice. The funds being raised will enable Interfaith Action to keep its shelter doors open every night from mid-November to April, providing life-saving warmth to those without homes during the coldest months fo the year. The money also helps fund Interfaith Action’s Hospitality Center and Warming Center, which offer safe and warm places for those who don’t have a home during morning hours and afternoon/evenings, respectively.

Participation in the Walk for Warmth is open to anyone. Many of the more than 40 faith communities which comprise Interfaith Action will be assembling teams of walkers, including people of all ages.

Individuals interested in participating in the walk or donating to support it can find further information at https://tinyurl.com/IAE2022W4W. Registration will also be available on-site the day of the event.