A Foundation Built On Faith

The Walk The Walk trailer.

Children in need in Maryland have a source of help in the WALK THE WALK FOUNDATION (WTWF), based in Millersville. David and Kimberley Mitchell started the foundation in 2005. In a sense, the organization was built on a base determined by faith, especially since faith had seen the couple through many trials and had prepared them for this larger task.

Kimberley noted, "We strongly feel we have been blessed and we want to share that with others. Most importantly, we want to teach our own kids that they have a responsibility to 'Give Back!'" The inspiration for the name of their foundation came from a Biblical verse, Joshua 22:5, "Love the Lord your God and WALK in all his ways!"



The foundation works on the principle of a circle of giving. The resources of the foundation catalyze those who give and those who receive to do the same in future when the opportunity presents itself, in other words, a form of paying it forward. As more give and more receive that giving circle grows larger.

WTWF does its work through three different projects. The foundation became part of the Huggies' National Diaper Bank. The organization organizes diaper drives to collect disposable diapers. Volunteers repackage them in packages of 25 each, then distribute them to nonprofits serving as shelters, food pantries, and other types of community service organizations, who then distribute them to mothers who need them. The diaper program continues year round.

Another program is the Back to School Drive. WTWF purchases school supplies in bulk and then volunteers from the community help to pack a backpack full with the school supplies. The organization brings a trailer full of supplies to a site, such as a church, school, or office. Participants donate $30 and then fill up a backpack with school supplies. WTWF also accepts donated school supplies from members of the community. Backpacks are then distributed to students at Anne Arundel County elementary schools.

One of the gatherings where WTWF received completed backpacks of school supplies.

The third, and signature program, is Walk of Christmas. Members of the community are solicited to sponsor a family from Maryland, West Virginian, or Virginia. Sponsors then purchase gifts for the family members. Names and composition of the families come from Department of Social Services or other service organizations. Once the sponsors have purchased the gifts, they get together with the sponsored family at a distribution site. Families greet families, play games together, and the sponsored families receive the gifts. Each sponsored family receives a disposable camera, which can be used to photograph when they open the gifts. The used camera comes back to the foundation, where the pictures are developed; one copy is sent to the sponsor and the other to the receiving family. There are also other ways for those who want to donate gifts and gift cards to participate, as well.

A big thank you from children who received gifts.

Thanks for information from this Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/pg/WalktheWalkFoundation/about/; this page on WTWF: http://www.wtwf.org/diapers/; this page on WTWF: http://www.wtwf.org/back-to-school/; this page on WTWF: http://www.wtwf.org/walk-of-christmas/; and the above link.

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