Chants of "help the homeless" could be heard from the playground at Mount Vernon Woods Elementary School earlier today, as students participated in the Help the Homeless Mini-Walk.

The Fannie Mae Help the Homeless Mini-Walk was held during recess. This is the second year the school is hosting a mini-walk, said Assistant Principal Bonzetta Hairston. This year, parents did not have to pay a registration fee for their child to participate thanks to the help of United Community Ministries. Instead, parents were able to make an optional donation to the walk. 

"What happened is that UCM pays the registration fee for kids, which is 15 dollars per child," said Hairston. "A number of families donated money and contributed 655 dollars towards the cost of the walk. UCM picked up the rest."

Nearly 200 students participated in this year's walk, which was just one of many educational activities held throughout the day. Students participated in a life-size board game, "The Race to Self-Reliance", during gym classes, and Sarah Stone from UCM provided a puppet show to kindergartners and first graders. 

Said Hairston, "Although the amount of time spent was minimal, the students are aware that their efforts will help generate funding to support United Community Ministries in meeting the many needs of people in the community to improve their quality of life.  Fannie Mae offers beneficiary organizations incentive awards to help fund their program needs."