Volunteers Come Through For 'Walk Me Home'

 The Memphis/West Tennessee Walk Me Home event was held on Saturday August 20, 2011, raising $5,000 for foster and adoptive children. The event was sponsored by Nike of West Tennessee, the Cathedral of Faith and several other Memphis organizations.

Though the day was hot, the 5-kilometer walk was a big success. 

A hearfelt thank you for all who volunteered and assisted.  

The Tennessee Foster Adoptive Care Association, Resource Parent Advocacy Program, and Tennessee Department of Children’s Services organized the fourth annual “Walk Me Home” 5k fundraising event to raise awareness of the more than 7,200 children and youth currently in foster care in Tennessee. 

“Walk Me Home…to the place I belong” is sponsored by the National Foster Parent Association in partnership with Tennessee and over 25 other states throughout the U.S.  This event has been organized to raise awareness of foster care, promote fostering and adoption, and most importantly raise funds that will be used for the sole purpose of supporting and enriching the lives of children and youth in foster care.  

All proceeds from the event will be allocated to the Walk Me Home Enrichment Fund, which was established in 2010 and provides children and youth the opportunity to receive financial assistance for a variety of special needs and activities, such as camps, musical instruments, art classes, school uniforms, music lessons, fees for sports involvement, class or church-related trips.  

This past year, the Walk Me Home Enrichment Fund was able to provide clothing and basic necessities for a young lady who had been adopted, but was abandoned by her adoptive parents on her 18th birthday.  She had been accepted by a college in East Tennessee, but was overwhelmed to be starting college with only the clothes on her back.