This weekend take the Step OUT For The Brave 40,000 Step Virtual Challenge to support homeless Veterans in our area. Presented by Homes for the Brave (HFTB), the event takes place virtually from a location of your choice through Sunday, August 16. Registration is open, visit homesforthebrave.org/stepout2020 to sign up today.
A kick-off event was held on August 8 for the nine-day challenge. Senator Richard Blumenthal, Bridgeport Mayor Joe Ganim and Shelton Mayor Mark Lauretti joined a group of Homes for the Brave supporters as they led a socially-distant walk along Park Avenue in Bridgeport.
“Every time I pass Homes for the Brave I think of the men and women who have been provided here with such essential services,” said Senator Blumenthal. “It’s more than just a roof over their heads, it’s the companionship, the support, the counseling, the job training, vocational services; it’s a spirit, and its part of what we owe our Veterans.”
The Step OUT Challenge can take place in any location of choice. Participants may take just one step or 40,000 steps to honor each of the 40,000 homeless Veterans across the United States. Supporters across the country have risen to the challenge from as far away as Washington state and to date, over eight million steps have been taken.
“We all must do our part, and there are no boundaries, so it doesn’t matter where you are, when you’re doing your part, you’re supporting,” said Mayor Lauretti. “I’m one grateful American who appreciates the freedoms that I enjoy and I know that these freedoms are provided courtesy of the American Veteran.”
“Homes for the Brave has done much to make us proud to meet the needs of Veterans, and we need to continue to do more as a goal to end Veteran homelessness in this country,” said Mayor Ganim.”
Since 2002, Homes for the Brave has helped over 1,400 homeless individuals, mostly Veterans, to secure income, find safe and affordable housing, and make meaningful contributions to our community.
Homes for the Brave would like to thank its current sponsors, including Bridgeport Sound Tigers, Friend of Homes for the Brave, iHeartMedia, PSEG, Webster Bank Arena, Fallen Heroes Wilfredo Perez Jr. Memorial Fund, Webster Bank, Connecticut Construction Industries Association and it's members, Bernadette Baldino, Connecticare, Knights of Columbus Park City Council #16, Liberty Print Co., Microboard Processing, Newtown Savings Bank, Subway, T. Arduini Co. Inc., UNICO International Connecticut Community Bank, Deadlocked Escape Rooms, Haynes Construction, People’s United Bank, SEAL RDAC, The Schegg Group, Tito’s Handmade Vodka, Turner Construction.