Laura McDowell, of the Washington Gardner Elementary School's parent-teacher group, left, gives Albion Community Action Agency Director Pat West, right a check representing the $665.45 raised by students during a recent Penny War. The weather for the check presentation proved an appropriate reminder of why the Walk took place.

"I was really surprised how successful it was," said Albion CAA Director Pat West. With a lot of people's money going to aid victims of December's Asian tsunami, other charities have been hard pressed to gather donations. While Albion area groups, churches and organizations have contributed to the tsunami relief efforts, local residents also turned out their pockets to help friends and neighbors here at home. In fact, earlier this year 45 teenagers and young adults raised more than $700 toward Walk for Warmth during a Martin Luther King, Jr. Day bowlathon hosted by the Albion Volunteer Service Organization at the Albion Fun Center.

Student at Washington Gardner Elementary School proved their mettle in a rescheduled Penny War to aid Walk for Warmth. Originally set for the week of February 14-18, the fund raiser had to postponed when a fire at the school caused its closure that week. When classes resumed the students held their Penny War and brought in a total of $665.45. "We picked Walk for Warmth because we knew the money would stay [here]," said Laura McDowell of Washington Gardner Elementary's parent-teacher group.

Elementary students at Harrington Elementary School also contributed, holding their annual Walk this past Monday and turning in $332.

Walkers at Saturday's event came in all shapes, sizes, ages, and backgrounds. Albion High School student Garrett Brown was there, he said "because it is important to continue what Rev. Kurtz started in
terms of helping people. It's important to give back to the community." During that first walk in 1984 Kurtz started at 9 a.m. on a Thursday and walked the streets of Albion for 24 hours carrying a sign. He
raised about $1,500 for his efforts. Kurtz said Saturday that Bob Brown, now of Starr Commonwealth, spent 16 hours with him that day. Rev. Kurtz was also on hand last Saturday. Asked about how much the fund raiser had grown since he began it over two decades ago, he responded: "I knew [then] there was an immediate need. It's just mushroomed from there."

Most of the people helped by Walk for Warmth are not on public assistance Kurtz said. It's usually the working poor. People who are working and trying to better themselves. We need to continue to work for those who are disenfranchised, but also work with those who can make decisions to correct [the problems]." As Kurtz addressed the crowd Saturday, he recalled one of the images of just over 20 years ago that inspired the original walk.

He had walked into someone's home where, "they had a big tub filled with wood in the living room. That was how this family was heating their home," he said. "Their gas had been cut off. They had no other way of getting funds. That prompted me. Something had to be done."
Also present Saturday for a brief recognition ceremony of Kurtz and other longtime Walk for Warmth supporters were: Albion Mayor William Wheaton, State Senator Mark Schauer, State Representative Mike Nofs, Greater Albion Chamber of Commerce Board of Directors Chair Lee Schultheiss, Albion Public Schools Community Education Director Cathy Campbell, Albion Rotary Club representative David Hogberg, Thomas Hunsdorfer of Albion College, Amy Johnson of McDonalds, Stanetta Rider
of the Albion Housing Commission, and VISTA Volunteer Canduace Cloy of the Albion Volunteer Service Organization.

Steering committee members for 2005 included: Mary Ann Adkins, Canduace Cloy, Cathy Campbell, Jacquelin Crittenden, Catherine Kerley, Hilary Korstange, and Mida Moon. For more information about CAASCM's heating assistance program, contact Pat West at 517-629-9403.