It is time for the annual Jackie Gilliard-Henderson Memorial Scholarship Walk-a-Thon.  

The 4½-mile After Mother’s Day Walk will start at 6:30 a.m. Saturday. Participants will meet in the Bradwell Institute parking lot near the baseball field to register.

“The walk will start promptly at 7 a.m.,” said Gary Gilliard, the president and chief executive officer of Seven Ministries and the son of the late Gilliard-Henderson. Gilliard is also the 5th District commissioner on the Liberty County Board of Commissioners.

Members of the nonprofit Seven Ministries support programs throughout the community. Proceeds from the walk go to the programs.

Each year, Seven Ministries awards scholarships to high school graduates. In 2015, the group awarded $4,000 in scholarships, donated nearly $5,000 in gifts to senior citizens, and sponsored a Back to School Rally at Rebecca’s Place in Hinesville. During the rally, more than $3,800 in school supplies was given to children.

“We also support the local Manna House, the Liberty County Homeless Coalition, and other charitable causes,” Gilliard said.

He said the group hopes to fund eight scholarships this year.

“These funds also help support the organization’s other programs, i.e., Working for Jesus, Youth Mentoring, Adopt-a-Housing Project, Recovery through Christ, Senior Citizen Program, Homeless Intervention, and Back to School Rally,” Gilliard said.

Diana Reid and Vickie Nelson, the first African-American women to serve on the Hinesville City Council, will serve as co-grand marshals of the walk.  

Anyone who wants to participate may do so by walking, or making tax deductible donations.

“We ask participants over 21 years old to donate $20 and participants from ages 16 to 20 to donate $10. There is no fee for children under 15 years old,” Gilliard said.

For more information, call Gilliard at 912-977-3527.