“WAMFAC (WALK-A-MILE FOR-A-CHILD)” – A NEW JERSEY PROJECT INITIATIVE FOR THE BENEFIT OF FEED THE CHILDREN, INC.
Elizabeth, NJ (January 18, 2010) – Jericho Road Ministries, Inc., in conjunction with a diverse group of religious, nonprofit organizations, schools, and municipalities throughout the state of New Jersey, is coordinating a multi-city, 1 Mile Walk on Saturday, September 18, 2010 entitled WAMFAC (Walk-A-Mile For-A-Child). The walks will commence simultaneously in each of the participating cities and will culminate with the distribution of food and other supplies provided by the Feed The Children organization at designated sites. Feed The Children is one of the world's largest, nonprofit relief organizations dedicated to helping hungry and hurting people. In 2008, 91 percent of all the Feed The Children expenditures went to program services (childcare, food, medical, disaster relief, and community development.) For Online registration, go to http://www.jerichoroadministries.org/care.html. Participating New Jersey cities include Newark, Roselle, East Orange, Bridgeton, Elizabeth, Jersey City, and Irvington.
The WAMFAC™ (Walk-a-Mile For-a-Child) Project Initiative, the brainchild of Jericho Road Ministries’ Founder Yetta Armstrong, is a collaborative effort to benefit the Feed The Children organization and some of our New Jersey children living below the poverty level in addition to experiencing an existing hardship. There are over 2 million children living in New Jersey families of which 222,090 are living below the poverty level. WAMFAC will collaborate with social service agencies within the state to identify families that may fall into this category and offer them the opportunity to register as a recipient for this event. This statewide event has a goal to reach as many as 400 families in each of the participating cities. Participating walkers will be asked to donate $30.00 each to cover the cost of the trucks and other related costs. With the recent tragedies in Haiti we are hoping that New Jersey residents will also open their hearts to assist the children in their state as well.
WAMFAC is proud to have the support of Mayor Corey Booker and Deputy Mayor Margarita Muniz of Newark, Mayor Garrett Smith of Roselle, Mayor Robert L. Bowser of East Orange, and Mayor Wayne Smith of Irvington and are awaiting confirmation from several other mayors and local politicians. Under the leadership and direction of Newark Mayor Cory Booker and Deputy Mayor Margarita Muniz, Scheryl Davis coordinates the efforts of the Newark Super Neighborhoods Community Organization which is responsible for mobilizing and motivating the volunteer and community participation in Newark. WAMFAC is also working with several ministers in the target areas and other community action groups. Volunteers are working with the municipalities not only to get permit approvals but to also confirm the walk routes and secure the distribution sites as well.
So far the confirmed distribution sites are:
- Link Community School, Newark
- Green Pasture Missionary Baptist Church, East Orange
- Second Baptist Church, Roselle
- Tri-County Community Action Partnership, Bridgeton
- Shiloh Baptist Church, Elizabeth
- Metropolitan A.M.E. Zion Church, Jersey City
For more information, media inquiries, or details please visit http://www.jerichoroadministries.org/care.html or email WAMFAC@aol.com
About Feed The Children
Founded in 1979, Feed The Children is consistently ranked as one of the 10 largest international charities in the U.S., based on private, non-government support. Feed The Children is a Christian, international, nonprofit relief organization with headquarters in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, that delivers food, medicine, clothing and other necessities to individuals, children and families who lack these essentials due to famine, war, poverty or natural disasters. In FY 2008, Feed The Children distributed more than 133 million pounds of food and other essentials to children and their families in all 50 states and internationally, supplementing more than 760,000 meals each day. Since its founding, the organization has reached out to help those in need in 118 countries around the globe. For more information, please visit www.feedthechildren.org.About Jericho Road Ministries, Inc.
Jericho Road Ministries, Inc. (JRM) is a 501(c)3 non-profit organization made up of ordinary people caring about extraordinary things. It is a New Jersey-based community of folks reaching beyond the borders of its Mid-Atlantic and Northeastern Regions."WE DARE TO CARE!" Established in 1999 and having a mission to "Help Others Rebuild Their Lives," JRM is committed to exemplifying the compassion of Jesus Christ in a practical and spiritual way by assisting men and women reestablish and maintain an independent lifestyle for themselves and/or their families. In addition to its ongoing collaborative projects, JRM has an online outreach with its Community Forum Society Chatroom virtual program and kicked off its second annual Dare 2 Care Writing Initiative on yesterday in remembrance of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. For more information go to www.jerichoroadministries.org or email and call us at luke10@jerichoroadministries.org or 877.577.7125.About Newark Super Neighborhoods
Newark Super Neighborhoods is a citizen driven initiative that challenges neighborhood residents, businesses, homeowners and organization to make a firm commitment to work together toward the collective formation of goals as determined by those participants within the geographic area prescribed as their neighborhood. It is a structured partnership with municipal government – supported by the Mayor’s Office of Neighborhood Engagement led by Deputy Mayor Margarita Muniz and Newark Now. Newark Super Neighborhoods were established in October of 2006 and there were 5 initial pilots. There are now 10 established Super Neighborhoods and more to be announced soon. This initiative of our Mayor Cory A. Booker continues to thrive. Mayor Booker has stated, “It is important that Newark’s citizens actively participate in creating the change that they seek.” Newark Super Neighborhoods are actively engaged and are building capacity every day. Our mission is to enhance the quality of life in all of our communities. Educate, Collaborate, Motivate & Celebrate!Link Community School Statement
Link Community School is an independent middle school in the Central Ward of Newark offering an excellent middle school education to youth with a range of academic abilities from families of limited means in Newark and the surrounding area. Link offers a rigorous college-bound academic program, extra-curricular activities and experiences to enhance knowledge and skills, and a core value system for personal development, thus providing the foundation for success in high school, college and beyond.About Metropolitan A.M.E. Zion Church
Metropolitan A.M.E. Zion Church is the oldest Black Methodist Church in Jersey City. It has a long rich history of involvement with the lives and issues of our community. In 1968 Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. spoke at Metropolitan to an audience of 2,000 people. Metropolitan was one of his last stops before leaving for Memphis Tennessee where he was assassinated 9 days later. The Interdenominational Ministerial Alliance of Jersey City and Vicinity will hold it annual Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Memorial Observance “Old Roots, New Struggles”, on Monday, January 18, 2010 at noon here at Metropolitan.In addition to Metropolitan’s spiritual and evangelistic ministries, we have 2 free community feeding programs. There is an after school tutorial program 3 days a week for children ages 6-12 in Reading, Math and Writing. Metro-Sec Inc. a non profit organization provides counseling and job placement services free to the public which is housed in the church’s Fellowship Building. Metropolitan also sponsors 4 Girl Scout Troops that meets weekly during the school year. Metropolitan sits on the corner of Bergen and Belmont avenues seeking souls who are lost and preaching the gospel of Jesus Christ. Metropolitan is a praying church and kingdom centered. All are welcome. To God be the Glory.
