The Grateful Gobbler is a non-competitive walk starting and ending at Collidge Park, where entertainment will be ongoing, as well as plenty of food and drink. Afterwards the historic Coolidge Park Carousel will be open - free for all participants. The Grateful Gobbler is a wonderful family event that will finish early enough so you can be home in time to see the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade (on television), watch football and enjoy a delicious Thanksgiving Dinner.
History of the Grateful Gobbler Walk for the Homeless:
In November 2000, members of ten downtown congregations joined with the Homeless Coalition in organizing Chattanooga's inaugural Thanksgiving Day walk for the homeless. All participants came together regardless of religious belief or background in order to work toward one common goal: helping some of the neediest individuals in our community. With this goal, additional congregations have been added each year, making this an event that is a Chattanooga tradition for many families.
The Homeless Coalition is an association of agencies and individuals who serve the homeless population in our community and surrounding area. It identifies service needs, works with organizations to develop resources, and facilitates community actions that move homeless individuals and families to self-sufficiency. The Coalition is the "lead agency" in developing an eleven county Continuum of Care of services to homeless individuals and families. It operates a computer-based centralized case management system that links providers in improving the quality of services to the homeless. In addition, it operates a "Community Voice Mail" program that links the homeless/phone-less to employment, housing and needed health and human services.
Goals For The Walk:
- Promote an awareness of issues faced by the homeless population in an effort to find better long term solutions.
- Promote cooperation within our diverse faith community to respond to the needs of our neighbors.
- Promote philanthropy as well as a healthy lifestyle on a day characterized by overindulgence.
- Raise a significant sum to benefit the local homeless population through the Homeless Coalition and its member agencies.
For More Information, Contact:
The Chattanooga Regional Homeless Coalition - www.homelesscoalition.org
Your participation and support will directly help the homeless in our area through the agency you select (from a list of twenty-one) to be the beneficiary of your registration fee. All of our expenses (including free shirts for all participants) are underwritten by our sponsors, so your registration fee directly benefits your chosen agency, which are listed below.
Homeless Coalition Local Member Agencies
(Eligible for Grateful Gobbler Funding Based on Participation)
The A.I.M Center - www.aimcenterinc.org
Bridge Refugees and Sponsorship Services, Inc. - http://home.chattanooga.net/-bridge/index.html
CADAS - www.cadas.org
Catholic Charities - www.ccetn.org
Chattanooga Area Food Bank - www.chattfoodbank.org
Chattanooga Cares - www.chattanoogacares.org
Chattanooga Human Services - http://www.chattanooga.gov/82_HumanServices.htm
Chattanooga Rescue Mission - www.chattanoogarescuemission.com
Chattanooga Room in the Inn - www.chattanoogaroomintheinn.com
Chattanooga Church Ministires (Community Kitchen) - www.community-kitchen.org
Episcopal Metropolitan Ministries - www.metroministry.org
Habitat for Humanity of Chattanooga - www.habichatt.org
Homeless Health Care Center - http://health.hamiltontn.org/ClinicalServices/PCMC/HomelessHlt.aspx
Hope for Inner City - www.hoper.org
Hope United Ministries - hopeunlimitedmin@bellsouth.net
Interfaith Homeless Network - www.ihnchattanooga.org
Read Chattanooga, Inc. - www.readchattanooga.org
Regeneration Outreach Ministry - silvelsssand@bellsouth.net
Southeast TN Human Resource Agency - www.sethra.us
St. Catherine's Shelter for Women - (423) 266-0707
St Matthew's Shelter for Men (423) 266-1777
Comments(1)