GARY – Looking to take a walk that has a purpose?
Join hundreds of people walking for a cause and having fun at the 27th annual Walk for Sojourner Truth House at 9 a.m. (registration opens at 8 a.m.) on Saturday, June 13. The one-mile route starts and ends at the day center for at-risk women, 410 W. 13th Ave., and walkers are encouraged to form a team and collect pledges to support the ministry of the Poor Handmaids of Jesus Christ. There is no charge to participate.
“We are using a carnival theme and planning to make the event bigger and better this year,” said Jennie Weer, donor relations officer for the local PHJC office in Hobart. “We are seeking new vendors, and have Starbucks signed up to provide coffee for walkers, along with games, a deejay, popcorn, hot dogs, snow cones, face painting, a photo booth and door prizes.” U.S. Rep. Frank Mrvan is expected to offer opening remarks, and there will be warm-up exercises and giveaways.
The goal this year is to raise $110,000 for Sojourner Truth House, which offers a variety of services for women and their children by “taking steps” to end homelessness and hunger. “We raised more than $125,000 last year, so we hope we can exceed our goal again,” added Weer.
“This is our biggest fundraiser of the year,” said Dr. Pam Key, STH director of client services, “providing many needs for the day center, from application and class fees to bus passes to household items for our clients as they find new homes. It is really important, and we hope you will join us.”
Key said that women, who may be homeless or living in a shelter, can seek services at Sojourner Truth House, where a case manager is assigned to them and completes a needs assessment. Clients set goals and come to the day center for breakfast and lunch while attending 2-3 classes offered Monday through Thursday to address goals, career planning, parenting, addiction and life skills. Medical assessments are also offered, as is assistance with Social Security services.
One of the newest weekly classes at Sojourner Truth House is the Music-based Wellness Class taught by Jermaine Chandler, a trained musician, producer and teacher, as well as the lead maintenance technician at STH. “It’s about using music to help fix the broken parts of our clients, dealing with trauma and encouraging calmness,” said Chandler. “We go over different genres of music, find out what the client likes, and they can develop a personal playlist that they can benefit from.”
Clients can be connected with any service they might need, whether it be getting a driver’s license or scheduling job interviews.
There is an education program for children of clients, and women can do their laundry at the day center. “We are not an overnight shelter,” added Key, but can help with securing temporary housing.
“We try to make it as positive an atmosphere as possible, as safe a space as possible, and the clients are very supportive of each other,” said Key.
Sojourner Truth House maintains a clothes closet to outfit women as needed, and clients have access to the community food pantry – one of the largest in Lake County – and household items needed by clients when they secure a job and permanent housing.
In 2025, Sojourner Truth House helped 30 families secure permanent supportive housing, provided 9,393 meals, 5,772 transportation services and 245 laundry loads for clients, and served 70 child enrichment participants. The 2025 Impact Report also noted 9,681 families served from the food pantry, 846 home visits, 654 medical visits, 628 class attendees, 127 career services participants and utility cost assistance for 104 clients.
“Sojourner Truth House offers transformative programs for families, addressing physical, emotional and mental health needs through holistic, wraparound services,” said STH Executive Director Angela Paul in the impact report. “We value every person who comes through our doors and want them to experience love, dignity and respect.”
One of the most dedicated Walk for STH volunteers is Margaret Saliga, an active parishioner at St. John the Baptist in Whiting who was featured in the most recent STH newsletter. A daily walker, she signed up for the fundraiser years ago and each year leads a team of walkers who donate thousands of dollars in pledges by reaching out to family and friends.
“I’ve been inspired by the amazing work being done by the staff and volunteers (at STH),” Saliga is quoted in the newsletter. “I wanted to help in some way.” She added that the walk is “about women and children and families who desperately need help. Just start reaching out; you gain momentum as you go.”
To register as an individual or team for the Walk for STH, visit walkforsth.org. Registration is free, and there is no deadline and no minimum pledge. “The sooner you register, the sooner you can reach your (pledge) goal,” said Weer.
Caption: Sharing information about Sojourner Truth House and its annual fundraising Walk for STH on Saturday, June 13 with guest Christian Burks (second from left) from Damar Services, Inc. and She’s Still a Rose are (from left) Director of Client Services Dr. Pam Key, Sister Salem Bisong, PHJC and Executive Director of Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Justine Johnson of the Poor Handmaids of Jesus Christ. The foursome met on March 9 at one of the regularly scheduled Coffee and Conversation sessions hosted by the Gary day center for women. (Marlene A. Zloza photo)
