Lace up your walking boots, bring out the jogging gear, pop on the swimming costume, reach for the saddle and set the pace, as we challenge you to join us in a bid to cover 1,247 miles. Your steps can make a difference to thousands of people’s lives across Wolverhampton. Together, as a community we can make a change by going that extra mile.

Miles for Meals is back for 2024, and, between June 20^th and July 20^th, we are aiming for all involved – staff, volunteers, service users and our supporters – to complete a combined total of 1,247 miles, the distance between Wolverhampton and Grenada.  It is in Grenada where St John of God first opened a hospital and started helping people which has inspired a legacy of hospitality, compassion and respect, which underpins the approach of the Good Shepherd in the present day.

Our own staff are taking on some substantial challenges for Miles into Meals. Operations Manager Lee Smith is doing eight successive Blaze workouts at the David Lloyd Health Club in Dudley on July 6^th which will be quite a feat! And CEO Tom Hayden and Key Worker Paul Burns are taking on a 52-mile walking challenge to mark 52 years of the Good Shepherd, across July 11^th and 12^th.

But for those keen to pursue something slightly less strenuous, we are launching this year’s Miles into Meals challenge with the return of the West Park Walkers from last year.  Only this time, you can pop in and join us at a time to suit on just one day.

Date: June 20^th, 2024

Time: 10am-4pm (more details to follow soon)

Location: West Park, Wolverhampton.

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How to get involved? 

We are encouraging individuals and groups to put their best foot forward for a good cause or support our challenge by making a donation. All you need to do is:

•  Make a donation by clicking here.
•  Set up your individual or group fundraising page for West Park Walks or your own challenge by clicking here.
•  Like and follow us on Facebook, Instagram and TikTok 
•  Share on your social media platforms, use the hashtag #MilesIntoMeals and don’t forget to tag us.
• Just come and join us on the day!  We are planning to have several Good Shepherd ambassadors and other special guests in attendance.

Where your money goes? 

Our mission is to end homelessness, support recovery, and create pathways out of poverty. We achieve this by providing crisis support including food, practical support, and interventions to relieve homelessness, support to prevent people from becoming homeless and interventions and activities that support recovery from homelessness, mental health, and addiction. We deliver services in a way that makes people feel valued and always try to hear their voice.

Demand for our services has increased due to the current cost of living crisis - during 2023 we had a total of 1, 364 people accessing the Good Shepherd for support and, even since then, are continuing to have new people visiting us for the first time.  

Food remains the magnet which draws people in need to the Good Shepherd from where we are then able to work together with them on other issues in their lives with the ambition of making sustained and positive changes. Last year we provided 23, 165 hot meals in total as well as over 3,500 visits to our Family Food Pantry.

Challenge tips?

To complete this challenge, try to do a bit of walking every day – work it into your day. You could walk to work instead of catching the bus, take your dog out for a lunch time walk or use the stairs rather than the lift.

Don’t forget to tell your friends, family and work colleagues about the challenge, ask them to share your personalised fundraising page with their network and maybe even encourage them to get involved.

Whether you are walking solo or joining as a group. Help us as we continue to create pathways out of poverty by fundraising vital funds to provide meals for families and individuals from the Wolverhampton area.

How to pay in your donations? 

Fundraising platform

With your Enthuse fundraising page, everything happens automatically: the money is sent directly to us, Gift Aid is collected and your sponsors are thanked.

Cash

Cash can be dropped off at the Good Shepherd at 63 Waterloo Road.  Email us on [email protected] with any questions.

Contact details

For event support or any questions, please call us on (01902) 399955 or email [email protected]

And finally...

However you are able to support us, thank you so much for being part of the Good Shepherd team and helping us help people experiencing homelessness and disadvantage across Wolverhampton.