BY CAROLINE HICKEY

A team of BHS students helped raise tens of thousands of dollars at an annual fundraiser to end homelessness. 

The Walk to End Homelessness was held at the Temple of B’nai Abraham in Beverly on October 16. Sponsored by Family Promise, a leading national organization in the fight against housing insecurity, the event generated $44,000. The total far surpassed the goal of $30,000.

The team of seventeen BHS students turned out in their free time to support their community. Together, they raised almost five hundred dollars.

The group came to the event “ready to make a difference and have our energy seen,” BHS student and walk participant Anna Patterson said. 

Various local officials and speakers were in attendance among the sizable audience. Before the walk commenced, Family promise held a gathering ceremony during which the group expressed its appreciation for all the work performed by volunteers and participants. 

Participant Emily Jerinq volunteered because Family Promise is, in her view, an “organization that cares about the benefit of everyone.”

This event “brought people together, and created a community of all different people who want to help our community and families in need,” said participant Emily Jeremiq.. 

Students were also inspired by each other, Patterson said. Our group was a “very positive and empowering team.”

Family Promise is the nation’s leading organization working to prevent and end family homelessness. There are over 200 family promise affiliates throughout the country and they provide preventative services to stop homelessness before it happens. They also provide shelter when they have become homeless and stabilization programs once they secure housing. They work to bring people together through community, and by working together they have provided services to over 125,000 annual family members.