XENIA — Saturday is an unofficial homelessness awareness day in the City of Xenia.
Several events are taking place throughout the morning and afternoon geared at informing the public about the homelessness epidemic hitting Xenia and what can be done to combat it.
It begins with a walk around Xenia, continues with a pancake breakfast to help benefit a shelter and concludes with a fund-raising yard sale.
“You can get educated and connected to real ways to invest in our homelessness issue for Greene County and Xenia,” said Pastor Greg Delaney, who runs The Jeremiah Tree, a local area ministry dedicated to offering opportunities to the homeless, addicted and impoverished. “We have a lot of opportunities for you to become aware of our homeless situation and connect with people who are providing some solutions.”
The Bridge Walk begins 9 a.m. at Shawnee Park with a path around some of Xenia’s known areas of refuge for the homeless.
It will allow participants a chance to get a “feel for where some of the folks in town are settled on staying when they can get in the shelter,” Delaney said.
The walk is $25 (donation to The Jeremiah Tree) and will last around 60 minutes. Registration begins 8:30 a.m.
From 9 a.m. to noon the Xenia Adult Recreation and Services Center will host a pancake breakfast to benefit the Christ Episcopal Church’s winter shelter, which is open Nov. 15-March 15.
The cost is $8 for adults and $5 for children. More information about the shelter, along with a basket raffle, will be available during the breakfast. The center is at 130 E. Church Street.
“Work up an appetite on the walk … and go over and support one of our current services that is available for homelessness,” Delaney said.
An all-day yard sale will take place 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. at the Greene County Housing Program, 1080 E. Main St. All proceeds will benefit the program, which used to be part of the Red Cross.
Donations for the sale are being accepted 3-6 p.m. today at the housing program. Needed items include children’s clothes, vintage items, books, small appliance, housewares and knick-knack. No adult clothes, TVs or large appliances will be accepted, Delaney said.
“Go out and hunt down a bargain or two at the yard sale and get familiar with that program and how it’s changing,” Delaney said.
