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Hi! We’re Kayla and Jordan, and apparently, at some point, we decided that walking more than 100 miles across Portugal and Spain sounded like a fun vacation.  Starting this Friday (8/14), we’re taking on the Portuguese Coastal Camino, a 7 day journey from the Porto region to Santiago de Compostela. We’ll begin walking in Esposende and make our way through Viana do Castelo, Caminha, Vigo, Pontevedra, Caldas de Reis and Padrón before finally reaching Santiago.  That means early mornings, long days, steep hills, unpredictable weather and more than 100 miles on foot. Our longest day will be over 20 miles, and neither of us is emotionally prepared to discuss the blister situation yet.  But we wanted this walk to be about something much bigger than reaching Santiago.  We’re raising money for UNICEF, an organization working in more than 190 countries and territories to protect children and help them survive and thrive. UNICEF provides children and families with essentials like clean water, nutrition, health care, vaccines, education, protection and emergency relief, often in the world’s most difficult and dangerous places.  Every child deserves the chance to grow up healthy, safe, educated and hopeful, no matter where they were born or what circumstances they were born into. UNICEF works every day to help make that possible.  Our goal is to turn every mile we walk into meaningful support for children around the world.  If you’d like to join us, please consider:  Donating any amount. Truly, every dollar matters.  Sponsoring a mile of our walk  Sharing this fundraiser with someone who may want to support it Sending thoughts, prayers and blister-prevention advice  We’ll be posting daily updates from the Camino so you can follow along with the beautiful coastal views, the towns we pass through, our progress toward Santiago and the exact moment one of us begins questioning every decision that led us here.  We’re incredibly grateful for every donation, share and message of encouragement. Thank you for helping us make these 100+ miles mean so much more.  Let’s walk some miles and help some kids! With love and soon-to-be very tired feet, Kayla & Jordan 

My name is Kayla Williams. Growing up, my brother and sister and I faced hard times, and the backpack program from Rising Hearts Alliance made a real difference for our family. Those simple, caring gestures gave us relief and hope when we needed it most, and I want to make sure other families feel that same support and dignity. Rising Hearts Alliance does more than provide immediate help. They offer food pantry services, emergency housing, and financial relief, and they follow families through job training, education programs, mental health counseling, and child care support. Because of their compassionate, ongoing care, families can begin to rebuild and find a sustainable path forward. I am starting this fundraiser because I have seen how a community that cares changes lives. When families receive warm meals, a safe place to sleep, counseling, or help connecting to resources, it becomes possible to breathe again and take the next step toward stability. Your support helps Rising Hearts Alliance meet people where they are and walk beside them during recovery. Please join me in giving to Rising Hearts Alliance. Your donation will help provide practical resources and compassionate care to families in crisis, allowing more children, parents, and caregivers to regain their footing and hope for the future.

My name is Kayla Williams and I'm raising support for Rising Hearts Alliance because I have seen how quickly life can change and how powerful community care can be. Rising Hearts is there for families when emergencies strike, offering food, temporary housing, and immediate financial relief so parents can focus on healing rather than survival. Their compassion becomes a bridge from crisis to stability. Beyond urgent needs, Rising Hearts walks alongside families as they rebuild. They provide job training, education support, mental health counseling, and child care resources that help people find steady work, regain confidence, and create a safer, healthier future for their children. The team connects families to local services, healthcare, and schools to make sure support lasts after the first crisis has passed. I believe we all have a role in lifting each other up. Your gift to Rising Hearts Alliance helps keep the pantry stocked, housing available, and counseling programs running for families who need them now. It means a parent can pay for rent this month, a child can get counseling, and a neighbor can access the training that leads to a stable job. Please join me in supporting Rising Hearts Alliance. Your donation will be an act of kindness that creates real change for families facing hardship. Give what you can and help someone rise, recover, and rebuild.

When I was little, my brother and sister received a backpack from Rising Hearts Alliance filled with food, school supplies, and warm encouragement. That small act of kindness carried us through hard days, helped my siblings feel seen at school, and gave our family breathing room when we needed it most. I never forgot how much that backpack meant to us, and I want to help other families feel that same relief and hope. Rising Hearts Alliance does more than hand out supplies. They offer emergency housing, financial relief, job training, mental health counseling, and child care support so families can move from crisis to stability. Their food pantry and community partnerships provide consistent care while they walk alongside families to rebuild. Knowing what a difference one caring program made in my life, I want to support the whole network that lifts families up. I started this fundraiser because I believe in paying kindness forward. When we invest in basic needs, education, and emotional support, we change life trajectories. Your gift helps ensure a child gets the school supplies they need, a parent finds a stable place to sleep, or a family connects to counseling and resources that bring real, lasting change. Please join me in supporting Rising Hearts Alliance. Your donation will help provide the practical care and encouragement families need to rise, recover, and rebuild. Every contribution matters and honors the help my family received years ago.

My name is Kayla Williams, and I am proud to support Rising Hearts Alliance. When I was younger, my family benefitted from the backpack program, which provided much-needed food and resources. Those moments shaped my understanding of community support and the importance of helping others thrive. Rising Hearts Alliance is on a mission to ensure that families in crisis receive the compassionate care they need. Through our food pantry, emergency housing programs, and financial relief services, we stand by our community during their most challenging times. We believe that every family deserves a chance to build a sustainable path forward. We connect families to vital resources and partnerships that empower them to rise, recover, and rebuild. Together, we can create a future where every family has the tools and encouragement to overcome hardship. Thank you for considering supporting our mission and helping us make a difference in the lives of those in need.