Photo: WBZ NewsRadio \ Suzanne Sausville
(WBZ NewsRadio) — Thousands gathered for the 7th annual Winter Walk on Sunday to bring an end to homelessness.
Many of the 3000 participants wore blue signs around their necks as they walked to Copley Square with the reason why they felt the push to participate in the event.
Photo: WBZ NewsRadio \ Suzanne Sausville
One participant named Chris held a sign saying, "To upgrade my impact."
"First I would just ignore and then I started giving money, but then I thought I need to do more," Chris told WBZ's Suzanne Sausville.
Photo: WBZ NewsRadio \ Suzanne Sausville
Ari Barbanell, executive director of Winter Walk, is working to alter the public's perception of homelessness.
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"How do you think a little differently about homelessness? I mean homelessness can happen to anyone, it's not something that happens only to bad people," Barbanell said.
Photo: WBZ NewsRadio \ Suzanne Sausville
While Barbanell believes perception is a huge part of it, she also believes there needs to be change on the systemic level.
The event organizer's goal was to raise half a million dollars on Sunday.
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