The Northeast Michigan Coalition for the Prevention of Homelessness and Hunger will sponsor its eighth annual walk on Saturday. The walk will begin and end at the Salvation Army Church at 10:30 a.m., following registration at 10 a.m.

The walk spans three miles and walkers are encouraged to ask for pledges that will be used to assist the hungry and the homeless in the five-county area the continuum covers. Funds raised will be collected by Barb Willyard, executive director of the Community Foundation, before and after the walk.

The money is used to help local programs such as the Sunrise Mission and Shelter, Inc., offer assistance to the hungry and homeless through the Alpena Community Foundation.

Marlene McColluch, homeless awareness committee chairperson, said what's nice about the money that is raised is there are no strings attached to determine how it should be spent. She said little fundraisers like this give the shelters the opportunity to pay for items they could not afford otherwise.

Last year, $4,225 was raised from pledges and the annual quilt raffle. She said the walk started as an awareness campaign then turned into a fundraiser.

McColluch said she believes the walks have been successful although the turnout is not what it used to be.

"We're struggling," she said. "For a lot of people, (Saturday) is their day off and we would like to get more youth involved."

She said the campaign will not be having the sleep out it usually does for area youth but will have another type of activity instead. She said the sleep out was a way to generate awareness of the problem with area youth and speakers from area shelters would typically come and speak to them.

Coffee, doughnuts and hot cocoa will be available at the Salvation Army before and after the walk. Participants also can purchase tickets for a "Home Sweet Home quilt" that will be sold before the walk.

Crystal Nelson can be reached via e-mail at cnelson@thealpenanews.com or by phone at 358-5693.