By Michelle Williams
When Kelly Vance of Noblesville heard that a local chapter of Back On My Feet was set to open, she knew she wanted to be involved as a volunteer after first reading about the Philadelphia-based organization in Runners World magazine.
“It was a no-brainer for me,” she said.
The national nonprofit organization uses running as a vehicle to help those experiencing homeless and to live up to its name of getting others ‘back on their feet’.
The organization facilitates the formation of running teams consisting of its own resident members and community volunteers. Once a team is formed, the teammates run together on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays at 5:30 a.m. in addition to occasional longer runs, special events and races on Saturdays.
Now, Vance also runs three times per week with the Indianapolis chapter, something she’s being doing since it began in 2011.
She has been an avid runner for nearly ten years. Becoming interested when a friend ran in the annual Indianapolis Mini-Marathon, she has been hooked ever since.
When she is not running with Back On My Feet, she is a Compliance Specialist for First Person – an employee benefits and human resources advisory firm in Indianapolis. The company offers its employees an opportunity to earn a $500 donation to the charity of their choice in exchange for 30 hours of community service. Vance has earned that donation for Back On My Feet simply by putting her feet to the pavement with her running team.
Vance enjoys being part of the Back On My Feet program due to the sense of camaraderie and the connections she has made with people. “It’s a great way to volunteer and get exercise.” She says that a fast pace is not required, and even people with limited time can become involved.
She intends to run with her team indefinitely, saying that she misses her group when she takes any time off. “As a volunteer, I get as much out of the program as the people we are helping.”
Resident members who become actively engaged in the running program move on to the “Next Steps” phase where they have access to educational or job training opportunities, and even financial aid through the organization. On average, nearly 75 percent move into the Next Steps phase of the program. The organization has helped 1,767 members achieve employment since 2009.
Individuals who are interested in becoming involved with Back On My Feet may learn more at BackOnMyFeet.org.
