The University of Maine at Presque will host the second annual Safe Homes Aroostook “Move to End Homelessness” fundraiser on Sunday, May 4, from 1-5 p.m. The 5K fun run/walk, which will be held rain or shine, will start and end at Gentile Hall and wind along the city’s sidewalks and bike path.
Safe Homes Aroostook is an annual event that raises community awareness and funds to support two organizations that work to ensure safe homes for everyone in The County: Hope and Justice Project and Homeless Services of Aroostook. Proceeds from registration and donations/sponsorships will be divided evenly and go directly to the two organizations.
Organizers are hoping to grow the Safe Homes Aroostook event, which saw over 150 participants and raised more than $6,000 last year. The first 300 registered participants at this year’s event will receive an event T-shirt; and, on top of that, they will receive a pedometer, water bottle and event bracelet. Prizes will be available for top fundraisers and teams with the most participants, and drawings will be available for raffle prizes. In addition, there will be activities in the Gentile Hall gym for children to enjoy.
This year’s Safe Homes run/walk is being organized by UMPI’s Project Management Class, taught by Bryan Thompson, assistant professor of business at the university.
“Having students employ project management skills through the organizing and management of an event of this size provides them with an experience-based learning opportunity… and we are very excited to be assisting these two organizations,” Thompson said.
Hope and Justice Project was founded in 1979 and provides services throughout The County from Houlton to the St. John Valley. Its mission is to educate the community on domestic violence, give help to victims in achieving safety, including shelter, and to reduce social attitudes that tolerate and foster abuse and violence.
Homeless Services of Aroostook was founded in 1984 and provides shelter, food and other services to individuals and families with children without a home. The shelter, located in Presque Isle, is the only emergency homeless shelter for the general public in Aroostook County.
Cost to participate is $15 per person; children under 12 are free. Checks can be made payable to “Safe Homes Aroostook,” P.O. Box 1753, Presque Isle, ME 04769. For more information about the event and to view a route map, visit http://safehomesaroostook.org/. To register, visit http://safehomesaroostook.org/registration. For other inquiries, call Thompson at 768-9459 or email bryan.thompson@umpi.edu.
