Smith Mountain Lake Walk to End Poverty

Event Overview

Together We Can Make a Difference for Our Neighbors in Need!

The annual SML Walk to End Poverty is Saturday, September 19, at Smith Mountain Lake State Park. The 5k and 10k walk or run event is organized by Lake Christian Ministries (LCM). Proceeds from team and individual fundraising efforts support LCM’s services aimed at assisting local neighbors struggling with poverty.

Impact of Lake Christian Ministries

• Service History: Lake Christian Ministries' programs and services have helped vulnerable families through tough times for 33 years.
• Service Growth: Over the past three years, we have seen a 58% increase in the number of services provided for local families.
• Children Assisted: There has been a 74% increase in the number of children who received food assistance and benefited from financial aid for housing and utility restoration.
• Community Need: A growing number of local families are unable to pay the bills each month even though they have jobs.

Current Challenges

Over the past three years, the cost of living has been rising much faster than paychecks and a substantial percentage of our local population is living in a state of constant financial stress. We are seeing an extraordinary amount of economic suffering in the lake community. Lake Christian Ministries is one of the few rural nonprofits that works in a comprehensive way to stabilize families with food, financial aid, job assistance, and community connections. To address the growing demand for our services, we need your support.

Matching Challenge

• Challenge Overview: To help, the SML Walk to End Poverty sponsors are offering a "Matching Challenge".
• Donation Match: This challenge provides a $1 for $1 match for the first $55,000 donated by the community.
• Fundraising Goal: The goal is to generate a total of $150,000 for services to assist vulnerable families struggling with the economic crisis.
• Maximize Impact: Help us maximize your support when your donation can be doubled with a matching challenge.

Get Involved

Together, we can make a greater impact during a difficult year for a growing number of local families in need.

Event Details

Date: September 19, 2026

Location: Smith Mountain Lake State Park, Huddleston, VA

Register for the SML Walk to End Poverty