As we move into LifePath’s 29th Walkathon season, we have more uncertainty ahead of us. Last year the captains and your team pivoted beautifully right alongside us. We are so grateful for your spirit, effort, and enthusiasm as you chose to continue to provide for older adults, individuals with disabilities, and their caregivers. The power of community, the walkathon fundraisers and their supporters continue to be integral to the well-being of those LifePath services. That’s why the theme of this year’s hybrid event scheduled for Saturday, May 1 is “Why I Walk: Stepping Up and Stepping Out for LifePath.”

On behalf of our church team, we are requesting donations to ensure that LifePath’s efforts continue to feed those homebound elders who are unable to obtain meals on a regular basis, serving 550 meals weekly, through the efforts of 45 drivers covering over 42K miles yearly. While these meals are now delivered chilled or frozen, we look forward to again delivering hot meals; COVID permitting.

We also transport LifePath clients to/from their medical appointments, pick up/deliver prescriptions; and recently provide rides to their COVID 19 vaccination appointments.

Let’s again commit to a season of goodwill and activity to result in something we can all be proud of on Saturday, May 1, 2021, marking the full season of activity.

Please consider donations to LifePath on behalf of the 1st Congregational Church of Shelburne as follows:

On Line Donations: Click the green DONATE button to the right

Checks: donations should be in the form of a check, made out to LifePath and mailed to Alan L. Coutinho, 406 Taylor Road, Shelburne, MA 01370.

For those friends who live nearby, arrangements can be made by calling 413-625-8480, so we can directly pick up your donation, or if you choose, you can drop it off at our house. Cash is also accepted.

For the 29th year, LifePath will again host our annual Walkathon scheduled for Saturday, May 1, as a virtual event with the theme, “Why I Walk: Stepping Up and Stepping Out for LifePath.”

Revenues from last year’s event declined by 34% as we were all trying to make sense of the effects of the pandemic on our community, businesses, loved ones, and ourselves. LifePath’s move to broaden the scope of programs that receive funding through the Walkathon effort proved invaluable. Those funds offered flexibility as we experienced more uncertainty at this time of unprecedented isolation, need, and worry.

The power of community that walkathon fundraisers and their supporters have brought to the Walkathon continues to be integral to the well-being of those LifePath serves. Funds raised from the community offer LifePath the opportunity to make independence an option in more ways through its 40+ programs and services. The agency has also been responsive as we all have been navigating the pandemic: adapting programs, offering Personal Protective Equipment, and assisting with vaccine scheduling,

Please know that every donation is meaningful to the community members LifePath serves, and the work LifePath does every day. Thank you for supporting this fundraising effort.