Irving's Friends of the Poor Walk Returns Oct. 24 to Help Families Facing Financial Hardship

IRVING, Texas - Irving residents are invited to lace up their walking shoes, bring their families and even their four-legged companions for a community event aimed at helping neighbors struggling with poverty and homelessness.

The fifth annual Friends of the Poor Walk will take place Saturday, Oct. 24, 2026, at Holy Family of Nazareth Catholic Church, 2323 Cheyenne St. in Irving.

Organized by the church's local conference of the Society of St. Vincent de Paul (SVdP), the event raises money to assist individuals and families who need help paying rent, utilities and other essential expenses.

But organizers say the walk is about more than collecting donations.

"This isn't just a fund-raising event, although that is a very important part of it," said Bob Greenfield of Holy Family's St. Vincent de Paul group.

"It's also an opportunity for us to walk in solidarity with the poor, something we try to do as Vincentians whenever we assist those in need," Greenfield said. "It's our way of figuratively walking in their shoes so we can better understand and have compassion for our less fortunate brothers and sisters."

Walk Through Northwest Park Begins at 9 a.m.

Registration opens at 8 a.m. outside the church's Family Life Center, with the walk scheduled to begin at 9 a.m.

Holy Family's pastor, the Rev. Jacob Dankasa, typically offers participants an encouraging message before they head out.

The short walking route takes participants from the church to nearby Northwest Park, where walkers will follow a path around the park's central pond.

The event welcomes people of all ages, and dogs are invited to join their owners.

Refreshments and event T-shirts will be available while supplies last.

Registered participants have already begun seeking sponsors, and all donations collected will support local charitable assistance provided through Holy Family's St. Vincent de Paul conference.

"We hope that anyone from the community who is concerned about the poor will join us," Greenfield said.

Donations Help Irving Families Pay Rent, Utilities and Buy Food

The Holy Family St. Vincent de Paul conference works directly with individuals and families experiencing financial hardship in the Irving community.

Volunteers help residents by making partial payments toward household expenses, including rent and utility bills, and providing food to those in need.

The local conference is part of the Society of St. Vincent de Paul, a worldwide Catholic charitable organization founded in Paris in 1833.

Its parish-based volunteer groups provide financial, material and emotional assistance to people facing difficult circumstances.

In North Texas, the organization also operates a free pharmacy, a small-loan program designed to help people avoid predatory lending, and two thrift stores in the Dallas area.

Friends of the Poor Walk Event Details