Takoma Park Students Raising Hope in Montgomery County

Two Takoma Park students are going the extra mile to help low income families. Cindy Ascencio, 20, and Jenny Matias, 20, both social work majors at Washington Adventist University in Takoma Park, are the organizers of the Raising Hope Walkathon- an event that will take place on October 12 from 8 a.m. to 12 p.m.

The Walkathon is a 5K and 10K race at the Washington Adventist University Commons and Sligo Creek Park. The goal is to raise money to fund programs at the Adventist Community Services of Greater Washington (ACSGW).

“We are more than happy to help anybody that is in need of help. … We would like to see a great outcome,” Ascencio said.

The two friends are interns at ACSGW, and this is not the first event they organized. Last May, before the end of the school semester, the two decided to put together a clothing drive. Ascencio said the outcome was better then they expected.

At the end of the school semester a lot of students move back home, and do not want to take things like kitchen supplies, and furniture back with them. Instead of having students throw them away, said Ascencio, maybe they could donate to “people that would be glad to have that stuff.”

“We just figured it would be a good idea for them to donate to the center,” Ascencio said.

The Adventist Community Services of Greater Washington is an organization made of several churches that provide food assistance, job skill training, English as a second language classes, GED classes, and much more.

“The two interns who are organizing [the Walkathon] are working hard and excited and eager to get a good crowd out to help ACSGW fulfill its mission: helping people help themselves,” Alicia Tucker, Communications and Promotions Specialist at  ACSGW, wrote in an email to MyMCMedia.

Tucker wrote that this is “in many ways” a kick off to the major food collection efforts in area churches and schools that will take place in November. Last year Sligo Adventist church collected over 15,000 pounds of food.

To register for the Walkathon, call 301.586.6556 or at the event as early as 7 a.m. T-shirts, snacks, and water will be supplied.

About Aline Barros

Aline Barros is a multimedia reporter and community engagement specialist with Montgomery Community Media. She can be reached at Abarros@mymcmedia.org and on Twitter at @AlineBarros2.

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