I’M WALKING HOME, TAKING AN ENTIRE YEAR TO CROSS AMERICA. IT’S A LOVE LETTER TO ‘AMERICA’S HOMETOWN,’ AND A FUNDRAISER FOR PLYMOUTH’S HOMELESS.

Money spoils everything, so I guess its a good thing I have so little of it.

I’m not complaining. Having no money is good practice, for having no money.

I’ll be largely dependent on the kindness of strangers on my walk, but its those I am leaving behind that I am most worried about.

If I had no one else to worry about, I’d probably take off today. What would be holding me back?

But because I have a home, and a family, and “obligations,” I have to plan, prepare, and be sure my adventure doesn’t leave others in a bad situation.

All this is my way of announcing, ta dah, that I now have a crowd funding site.

I am using Crowdrise, largely because it was so easy to set up.

The money donated at the WalkingHome site on Crowdrise (https://www.crowdrise.com/walkinghome/fundraiser/frankmand) goes directly to my charity, the Plymouth Task Force To End Homelessness.

The Task Force is a 501c3 charity, so everything donated through them is fully tax deductible.

I will have access to those funds, to pay for expenses during my year-long walk, but everything else (and I hope its a gargantuan amount) will go to their mission of keeping people sheltered during Plymouth’s often snowy winters and establishing and managing several other “transitional” homes. I hope that enough money is donated to also get them started on a permanent shelter.