Lace Up, Step Up for Local Families in Need Saturday

Members of the St. Michael conference of the Society of St. Vincent de Paul brought food and other necessities to an impressive 1,151 homes in North Andover in 2012.

And they are hoping to top that this year, so they are asking residents to step up -- literally.

The group will have its fifth annual Friends of the Poor Walk on Saturday, Sept. 21, from 9 a.m. to 12 p.m. at the North Andover Middle School track.
 
The church invites everyone to attend. You can walk, pledge, volunteer or show up to cheer on the walkers.

Register to walk or pledge support for a walker at www.stmikesvdp.org or by calling 978-686-4050.

Funds raised will go toward various efforts of the Society of St. Vincent de Paul at St. Michael Church to help people in need in North Andover.

"Come on out, walk a mile in someone else’s shoes, and become a friend of the poor. Find out how good it feels to give," Jim McAloon, president of the St. Michael conference of the Society of St. Vincent de Paul, said in a letter to supporters.

The walk is actually held in communities nationwide to both raise money for the poor and to celebrate the centuries-old Society of St. Vincent de Paul's work in helping the poor. Participation is welcome from people of all faiths as well as atheists.