BRATTLEBORO — Morningside Shelter has set its fourth annual Hike for the Homeless fundraiser for Saturday, Oct. 4, on Mount Wantastiquet in Hinsdale, N.H.
Start times are 10 a.m. and 12:30 p.m. at the Mountain Road trailhead in Hinsdale (take a left after the second bridge on Route 119 when coming from downtown Brattleboro).
Registration for the 10 a.m. start opens at 9:30; registration for the 12:30 p.m. start opens at noon.
The rain date is Oct. 5.
According to organizers, whether participants hike to the summit or walk the River Trail at its base they can look forward to spectacular fall foliage views of Brattleboro.
Hikers may raise funds individually ($50 is the suggested minimum) or as a team ($250 is the suggested minimum).
All proceeds from the hike benefit Morningside Shelter's work with families and individuals experiencing homelessness in and around Brattleboro.
According to Executive Director Joshua Davis, Morningside - southeastern Vermont's only year-round homeless shelter - sees “consistent demand” for its services.
Facilities include a 30-bed shelter, which serves more than 100 individuals each year (roughly a third are children), and a collaborative shelter for youth and their young children.
They also provide another 90 area households housing retention and homelessness prevention programming.
Libby Bennett, Morningside's development director, said in a press release that Hike for the Homeless is one of the organization's largest fundraisers of the year.
“We have come to rely on the amazing generosity of supporters in the community - those participating as hikers, sponsors, or contributors to the efforts of our hikers - to help us raise a significant portion of our annual fund,” she explained.
Bennett said 150 participants in 2013 raised more than $20,000 in support of the Shelter, “helping to house our neighbors experiencing homelessness."
Refreshments will be available, as will sandwiches by donation. Participants will receive a gift and prizes.
Top fundraising hikers are eligible for a one-night stay and two movie tickets at the Latchis Hotel and Theatre, a three-month membership at Outer Limits Health Club, and dinner for two at the Chesterfield Inn.