NEW ALBANY —
Kirk Sinclair and his wife Cindy left Point Reyes, Calif., on May 25 on a mission, looking to “raise awareness about community involvement to address housing, health and hunger” needs in the United States.
Led by a desire to bring people together, Sinclair and his wife have walked across the country, following the American Discovery Trail. On Thursday afternoon, they came through New Albany and met with a few supporters at Destinations Booksellers. Sinclair talked about his mission and sang three of his songs all filled with the same message — to bring communities together to provide basic needs for those millions of Americans who are less fortunate.
“It’s been an incredible journey,” Sinclair said.
When the Sinclairs reach their home in Norfolk, Conn., the journey will have covered 5,000 miles. The two, who have a support vehicle on the trip with them driven by a friend, walk about 10 hours a day. They have encountered heat in the desert and snow storms in Colorado, but are thankful the winter has not been too harsh in the country.
In communities along the way they stop to talk about their cause, as they did Thursday in New Albany. Sinclair believes communities can solve many of the problems by working together and sharing resources. He said it’s all about being kind.
“Don’t we all want kindness,” Sinclair said to the group. “We want to raise expectations in ourselves to help the cause we believe in. We believe in small communities ... America has become a large mass society.
“The common theme we have seen on this journey is kindness. We want to reinforce the idea that we can believe in ourselves.”
The two have not had to pay for lodging, instead sleeping on church floors, relying on the kindness of others, staying in their tent or in a hotel on a special occasion. They were given free lodging at the Holiday Inn in New Albany on Thursday and Friday. Sinclair, an accomplished musician, sells CDs, T-shirts and his book at stops to help raise funds to pay for the trip, which he said will cost around $10,000 to $12,000.
“People have a tendency to live up and down to expectations, but we need to believe in the kindness that resides in us. That is the crusade we are on,” he said.
The Sinclairs have always been long-distance hikers. He said he has logged more than 15,000 miles, so he said physically he was up to the challenge. The former GIS data specialist said he also helped pay for his journey by cashing in a small retirement account.
Donna Robinson, a member of the New Albany Lion’s Club, said she was contacted by Sinclair, also a member of the organization, in May. She met the couple along Ind. 111 and joined them as they hiked the final two miles into New Albany.
Sinclair said millions struggle with hunger, proper housing and health needs. He said his journey is to bring awareness to those issues, and to help spread the message on how communities can work together to help others.
“If you want to find kindness belong to others first and foremost before you belong to anyone else.” he said. “If that happens you are going to find kindness.”
Food
Related Photos
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Kirk Sinclair and his wife Cindy are hiking across the United States to raise awareness about housing, health and hunger needs in the country. Staff photo by Chris Morris
Discussion
A unique kind of journey: Couple hiking across the country to bring awareness to issues facing millions
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