WARREN COUNTY, Ohio — On blistered toes, tired legs and throbbing feet, Ryan Ellis and Eric Pujari powered through long days. There were eight days on the schedule, each with at least 20 miles of walking to ensure a safe and timely trip from Toledo to Cincinnati.
What You Need To Know
- Their journey spanned 170 miles from Toledo to Cincinnati
- It took eight days
- Money raised goes to Joshua’s Place
- It will fund poverty intervention services like a food pantry, tutoring and financial literacy classes
The pair’s second journey, the trip serves two purposes: the second chance at a lifelong dream and the opportunity to do even more good for an organization Ellis and Pujari agree makes their hometown, South Lebanon, better.
Ellis and Pujari walk through Waynesville
Joshua’s Place is an outreach center, just 12 years old, based out of South Lebanon’s community center. Executive Director Kevin Peyton said that’s already a huge step up from its roots as a food pantry in someone’s basement.
“Our mission is to help families that are in poverty overcome barriers,” he said.
That includes material help, like food and goods, but Peyton said most of Joshua’s Place’s work is in the lessons and services they provide.
“Parenting, financial literacy, we do a lot with students, we have mentoring and tutoring programs,” he said.
Peyton said that’s how Pujari and Ellis learned about their outreach.
“We were here in the school districts here in Kings High School where Ryan was familiar with us,” he said.
Until they planned their first walk though, Peyton said he didn’t know anything about either of them.
“Last year, I got a call from Ryan Ellis, who I’d never met, who called me and said my friend and I wanted to walk across Ohio, something that was a personal goal and we wanted to find a charity to raise money for and we love Joshua’s Place,” he said.
Peyton packs food and supplies for Joshua’s Place clients
Peyton said that was just days before they took off, so he took a quick trip up to Toledo to give them Joshua’s Place shirts and hats to accompany their journey.
During the next week, Ellis said they planned to raise $3,000. They ended up raising $12,000. This year they hope to top it.
“We were just really surprised by how many people actually latched into what this was and grew it into something way bigger than we ever thought it could be,” he said.
Peyton said much of that money went to food services and programming to drop off goods to people in need. This year, he’s hoping to use any funds for improving in-person programming.
“It’s being able to get back and meet with people that’s been a real plus for us this year,” he said.
As for the journey, Ellis and Pujari said seven days in, it was taking its toll.
“Sometimes conversation is pretty lively other times we’ll go pretty long stints without talking,” Ellis said. “Sometimes we’re just too tired.”
The pair arrived in Cincinnati on Tuesday evening. Friends and family were waiting and Peyton and the Joshua’s Place staff found out just how much the pair of walkers raised.
While they’re putting in the work, Ellis said it’s important to remember the fundraising was what their journey is really about.
“It really only happens through a large body of people willing to sacrifice their own finances,” he said. “It’s just really inspiring to see how many people are willing and able to help out.”
More information about their journey may be found here.
