Students at Newington Forest Elementary took time out of their school day on Friday, Oct. 30 for the Fannie Mae Walk for the Homeless, to benefit Lorton Community Action Center (LCAC). All the students from pre-school to sixth grade walked a short distance around the field to show that they cared for the homeless.

During Friday’s the announcements, students expressed what homelessness was and how it affects the community they live in. The school band played two different songs while students walked around the field.

Fannie Mae has stated that if 3,000 Lorton students walk, that it would donate $50,000 dollars to LCAC. The students who brought back their permission slips received free T-shirts to walk in. After the walk, students fooled around for a bit and then went back to class to be dismissed at 2:55 p.m.

School counselor Laura Holsinger coordinated the walk for the children at Newington Forest. “We encouraged our students to participate because we want them to understand the importance of contributing to the community,” she said. “Many families, many of ours are really having trouble meeting basic needs. If we all stick together and share with each other, we will be better off as a community. We hope to be making a difference.”

Other Lorton-area schools have done this to benefit the homeless. LCAC has been around for 34 years helping the community of Lorton by feeding and clothing families and individuals in need.