SVDP walk will benefit programs for the poor

    The Archdiocese of New Orleans St. Vincent de Paul Societies in St. Tammany, New Orleans, Metairie and the West Bank will host the fifth annual St. Vincent dePaul Friends of the Poor Walk Sept. 29 at three locations:
    ➤ The Lake Pontchartrain lakefront, next to the Mandeville harbor, the third annual walk hosted by the St. Tammany conference. The Knights of Columbus will once again be cooking jambalaya, red beans and rice, and hot dogs and chili, and also provide cold refreshments and music, all complimentary.
    Late registration will be held on site from 8 to 9 a.m. Father Michael Schneller, pastor of Our Lady of the Lake in Mandeville, will give the invocation, and Mandeville Mayor Donald Villere will speak before the walk. The event ends at noon.
    ➤ Lasalle Park, 6600 Airline Drive, Metairie, next to Zephyrs Stadium, the fifth annual walk hosted by the 27 conferences from the east bank district. Pre-walk events will kick off at 8:30 a.m., including late registration. The one-mile round-trip walk begins at 10 a.m., also followed by complimentary refreshments, food and music. The event ends at noon.
    ➤ Bayou Segnette State Park, 7777 Westwego Expwy., Westwego, hosted by the seven conferences in St. Vincent de Paul West Bank district. Lake registration will be taken from 8 to 10 a.m., with the walk at 10 a.m.
    The date for the walk is chosen on the Saturday closest to Sept. 27, the feast day of St. Vincent de Paul.
    St. Vincent de Paul conferences across the nation participate in the walk to raise awareness and funds for the poor. Proceeds go directly to the local conference to help those in need with rent, utilities and food. Last year, the local walk raised more than $30,000, with an average of 300 walkers at each site. Early registration is appreciated, though walkers can register walk day.  
    Walk registration and admission are free, but each walker solicits pledges to participate. Adults, parents with families, even babies in strollers and school-aged kids can participate.
    For details, visit www.svdpnola.org, contact the SVDP conference in each church parish for registration forms, or walk chairpersons: Elaine Selle, (985) 792-5844, [email protected], for the northshore; Dennis Stump, 256-0752, [email protected], for the East Bank; Mike Champagne, 341-4454,  [email protected], for the West Bank.
    The St. Vincent de Paul Society postal address for the walk is: P.O. Box 24358, New Orleans, LA  70124.