St. Vincent de Paul is once again bringing back an annual event to help community residents in need.

The annual St. Vincent de Paul Friends of the Poor Walk is set for noon-2 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 19, starting and finishing at Carrie Blake Community Park, 202 N. Blake Ave.

Registration opens at 11:30 p.m. the day of the walk.

There is no fee to participate in the walk, organizers note, but donations are encouraged and welcome.

More than 95 percent of funds raised at the event go to directly support those in need.

Funds raised by the Sequim walk go the St. Vincent de Paul Society in Sequim and will be used to help those in need who live within the Sequim School District boundaries.

The walk begins near the park’s picnic shelter. Participants have the option of walking short loops within the park or as far as Whitefeather Way on the Olympic Discovery Trail (about 5 miles, round-trip).

Walk coordinators Ella Sheppard and Mike McAleer said, “With the funds raised from the walk, we are able to help those who call us with a wide variety of requests.

“Especially during the current crisis of the COVID-19 pandemic, the needs of the marginalized are critical as it pertains to food, clothing, medicine, housing assistance, utilities and transportation costs.”

Sheppard and McAleer said that, because of struggling economic conditions, St. Vincent de Paul’s needs will increase by 20 percent.

“Winter is a difficult time for those in need,” they said. “Our volunteers work closely with with Serenity House, Sequim Community Aid and OlyCAP (Olympic Community Action Programs) serving individuals and families regardless of religion, race, gender or national origin.”

For more information or to contribute to the walk as a business sponsor, call Sheppard at 360-683-0948 or McAleer at 360-477-0837.