walking for Brandon's House

Christopher Hall in the C-J on Brandon's House (I've been on their board for about a decade)...

In the 14 years it's been open, Brandon's House Counseling Center has helped thousands of teenagers and given more than a million dollars' worth of free counseling to teenagers and their families.

Yesterday about 100 people showed support for Brandon's House, joining in a walk that raised more than $13,000 for it.

Organizers said more money usually arrives in the week after the walk, so they hope the final tally will be $18,000 to $20,000.

The annual five-kilometer walk usually draws 100 to 150 participants and raises about $20,000 -- a significant percentage of the center's approximately $100,000 annual budget -- according to the center's director, Susan Parr.

"I think (the walkers come out) because they know the need, and they know that we're very grass-roots, and they know when somebody gives a dollar to Brandon's House, it goes directly to helping families and teenagers," Parr said.

Brandon's House, a nonprofit agency, is located in a remodeled house behind DePauw Memorial United Methodist Church, across the street from New Albany High School.

Yesterday's walk started at the church and looped through downtown New Albany and back, with participants forming a long, scattered line on downtown sidewalks.

Terry Clem, a teacher at Our Lady of Perpetual Help Catholic School in New Albany, said her classes have supported Brandon's House for four or five years.

Clem, who is on the center's board of directors, said her students "get really excited" about helping raise money every year as a service project. Her class raised about $550 this year, she said.

"It's neat. … Brandon's House is such a wonderful place," she said.

Sharon Maetschke, the youth director at Trinity United Methodist Church in New Albany, also came out for the walk, along with several members of the church's youth group.

Maetschke said Brandon's House provided free counseling to her youth group several years ago after a member was killed in a wreck.

"I just think Brandon's House is a great thing," she said. "For children that are struggling with things and maybe can't talk to their parents about it, or their parents don't know how to help them, to have that available for people … and for them to be able to use that without being billed, I think it's wonderful."

Among the teenagers taking part in the walk were five members of the New Albany High School chapter of the National Honor Society. Seniors Veronica Klingsmith, Lindsay Koehler, Stephanie Medley, Kyle Ratliff and Logan Stone raised about $100 as a service project.

Kyle said the group wanted to support the center "to give back to the community."

Stephanie agreed. "It's a place where you always know you can go to if you need help. Knowing that it's almost the end of my teenage years, it's good to know that I'm helping people who are going to be teenagers just like I am."