Churchill Road Physical Education teacher Jason Mastaler leads a group of students and family members on the 8th annual Help the Homeless Mini Walk for the benefit of Pathway Homes, in Northern Virginia. Kim Moran
On Sept. 30, Churchill Road Elementary School held its 8th annual Help the Homeless Mini Walk for the benefit of Pathway Homes, a Northern Virginia non-profit that provides services to homeless families in Fairfax County and surrounding areas. With more than 50 registered walkers, the school raised more than $1,500 toward this effort. CRS Physical Education teacher Jason Mastaler spearheaded the event, and along with co-teacher Nicholas Corsi, led the group on a half-mile walk through the school grounds and surrounding neighborhood.
Participating students learned about homelessness in the Washington, D.C. area before the walk from Pathway Homes’ Philanthropy and Volunteer Coordinator Abigail Denecke. The participants included kindergartners through sixth graders. Two students, fifth grader Michael Hoeymans, and sixth grader J.J. Bellaschi, have participated in every walk since they were kindergarteners. When asked how they could help the homeless, kindergartener Dylan Thomas said it best: “Treat others how you want to be treated.”