The Alliance for Safe Kids, Inc. (ASK) has been looking forward to hosting their inaugural fundraiser walk, #WalkTheTalk, this year which is designed to extend resource awareness and help provide financial sustainability for ASK due to the expiration of federal grant funding. Originally scheduled for April 18, 2020, the walk was postponed to a September date amid the ongoing pandemic. In the best interests of the organization’s supporters and volunteers, ASK will now shift to a 100% virtual walk that will be held throughout the entire month of October. The move to a virtual walk follows ASK’s transition to remote programming, including its Save A Life Webinar Series attracting 100+ registrants and Virtual Community Service which has accrued over 300 community service hours in the month of July alone.
By making the walk virtual, ASK will encourage community members to register and fundraise in support of the organization and walk on their own time throughout October. Initial plans for the physical walk included highly interactive stations along the walk route disseminating information that is tied to ASK’s mission of promoting youth mental health, substance abuse prevention, and thoughtful community service. Instead, ASK plans to hold month-long programming in the form of webinars, social media content, and ASK Talks which will be short videos on a variety of topics shared by professionals and members of the community.
In October, ASK is able to bring awareness to Emotional Wellness Month as well as end the month with Red Ribbon Week. With that, the remote programming which will serve as the “Talk” aspect of #WalkTheTalk will focus on topics such as emotional wellness, mental health, thoughtful service, substance abuse prevention, and more. “The transition to a virtual month-long event allows ASK to have a much broader reach when sharing this vital information with people of all ages in the Yorktown community and beyond. It will also help raise much needed funds for the organization,” says Liz Talbert, Executive Director.
ASK plans to engage walkers through social media challenges, a volunteer-curated Spotify playlist that can be listened to while walking, and even smaller pop-up walks at walking destinations around town. Registration is currently live and can be found here. Community members are also encouraged to demonstrate their support by purchasing an ASK Supporter Signs which will be displayed online and throughout the town.
Please contact Liz Talbert at liz@allianceforsafekids.org for more information on #WalkTheTalk as well as sponsorship opportunities to support the Alliance for Safe Kids.