Family Promise of Carbon County, Carbon County’s only nonprofit emergency shelter addressing family homelessness, announced its Third Annual #CycleOutHomelessness event in partnership with AllOneCharities.

The event, which will be held this Saturday, calls on the community to participate in person or virtually to ride their bikes in order to raise awareness about family homelessness and help the shelter raise needed funds.

Join the event in the Weissport Park on Saturday for a day of family biking, live music by professional singer Tammy G., food, basket raffle and prizes.

Families can start between 9 and 10 a.m. to meet social distancing guidelines and pick their distance on the D&L trail. Reach Glen Onoko for a ticket to win a Fitbit Versa 2 watch. Join us back in the park anytime between 11 a.m. and 1 p.m. for live music, lunch, basket raffle and prizes.

This year, due to COVID-19, social distancing and Centers for Disease Control and Prevention requirements will be followed at the park to ensure participant health and wellness. Face masks must be worn at registration and basket raffle tables. A hand sanitizer station will be available. Chairs and tables in the park will be placed 6 feet apart.

Bring a blanket and enjoy a picnic lunch. Picnic areas will be marked 6 feet apart for families.

Participation can also be virtual as a ride, walk or run. Register as a virtual participant and post a picture of you participating to the Facebook event page and you will be entered for a prize.

Each year in America, 2.5 million children experience homelessness. One in 16 American children will experience homelessness before they reach the first grade. These children are three times more likely to be placed in special education programs, eight to nine times more likely to repeat a grade, and seven times more likely than their peers to commit suicide. The COVID-19 crisis has increased economic instability, creating an even greater risk of homelessness for families.

In crises such as this one, it is important that we display compassion and caring for every member of our community. While not all participants may be willing to physically come together, now is the time to show solidarity in the protection of our most vulnerable children and families served by Family Promise.

More information on this can be found at www.familypromsiecarboncounty.org.