At the heart of the matter, it's children helping children. Bethany Christian Services (BCS) simply serves as the mediator, the facilitator.

Appropriately enough, the organization's upcoming event is being called Walk in Love.

"Kids are the motivation for what we do," said Elaine Shenk, who's been BCS' director of family strengthening and empowerment for five years. "We want to protect children in our community. Everything we do at Bethany Christian Services revolves around children and family. We want families to come out, have fun and enjoy spending time together, being together as a family."

Bethany Christian Services of Central Pennsylvania is conducting its inaugural Walk in Love, a children's walk/run and family festival, from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. on Saturday, May 17, at Lancaster Bible College (LBC), 901 Eden Road, Lancaster. The event is designed to raise funds and awareness for families in central Pennsylvania dealing with poverty, homelessness and health issues.

In addition to the children's 1-mile walk/run and a toddler toddle, Walk in Love will feature food trucks, carnival-style games, a vendors' market and resource tables.

"We're hoping it's going to be very celebratory," said Shenk. "People are worth celebrating, and I get excited to see people lean on each other and cheering each other on. I'm picturing joy and lots of smiles. I think it's going to be a fun celebration."

Central Pennsylvania children and youths ages 5 to 18 are eligible to participate in the 1-mile walk/run, and they are asked to obtain financial sponsorships from family members and friends. A 1-mile course will be created around the parking lot of LBC's Horst Athletic Center.

Prizes will be awarded by age categories.

To register for Walk in Love, go to http://www.bethany.org/centralpa/walk or call 717-598-9971. The deadline to register is Friday, May 2, but late registrations will be accepted.

"I'm looking forward to meeting new people, seeing old friends and seeing it all come together," said Shenk. "I just picture a mighty, wonderful moment of energy. We're hoping to make it an annual event. We would love to continue to grow this event as a hallmark event for Bethany Christian Services. We really want it to be a family-centered event."

"(The idea for Walk in Love) came from a big brainstorming time," Shenk continued. "That's what we really want to do as Christians, walk in love, love our neighbors as ourselves and God. It just got a lot of support as we talked about it. People should always come first, and they should take care of each other. We say, 'Who is my neighbor?' We all belong to each other."

Organizers of Walk in Love are hoping to raise $15,000. The funds will go toward sustainability of BCS programs like Safe Families for Children.

"(Safe Families for Children is) an amazing ministry started in 2003 for children all over the United States and here in Lancaster, Dauphin and York counties," said Shenk. "It's not foster care. It's not changing custody. It's providing parents support until they get back on their feet. So many families are facing really tough things. It's a ministry, and churches get host families together. It's not really our staff doing it."

Headquartered in Grand Rapids, Mich., BCS was established in Lancaster in 1984. Since then, BCS has opened additional central Pennsylvania branch offices in Harrisburg, York, State College, Reading and Mohnton.

BCS, which provides adoption, foster care, counseling services, pregnancy support and family strengthening programs, employs 12 workers at its Lancaster office at 1681 Crown Ave., Suite 201, Lancaster. BCS is funded through government grants, private donors and fundraisers.

"Our mission is to extend the love and compassion of Jesus Christ by protecting children, empowering youth and strengthening families through quality social services," said Shenk. "We're very pro-people. We want to make a difference by walking through life with people."