A Day of Hope

It was sunny and beautiful for the 2nd annual Hope Walk on Oct. 3, 2026, when more than 75 members of our community came together to raise awareness and funds for maternal mental health, to provide education, peer support and resources to local moms at the Center. The Northwest Indiana Center for Maternal Wellness has nearly a dozen volunteers who serve as passionate advocates of its work, and many of them also helped organize and support the Hope Walk. They brought friends and family, welcomed event participants (including many kiddos!) and took a lap around Lemon Lake in solidarity with all moms who struggle with their mental health.

“I love all the Hope Walk entails,” says Kylie Carden, a Center volunteer. “It has all the good things for your wellbeing, like getting out in the sun, moving your body, creativity, coffee and donuts, and best of all, a community of people.” Kylie, who is also a former client of the Center, wanted to volunteer for the Hope Walk because spending time with a community that understands the importance of maternal mental health is good for the soul. She said she will continue to participate and invite others to join her at future walks.

Cristin Zilz, also a volunteer for the Center, described the Hope Walk as exceptional this year. She appreciated being able to hear more women share stories about their motherhood journey and connect to them in a whole new way. “One of my favorite things about the Hope Walk is how the people that were strangers to me last year at the walk are now friends who are a part of this amazing community that lifts one another up and supports each other,” says Zilz. Like Carden, Zilz says she can’t wait to participate in the Hope Walk again next year. “It has been very rewarding talking with and getting to know people who have struggled with the same things you have because they are just real, true conversations that mean so much."

Amanda Robert, another volunteer with the Center, joined the Hope Walk for the first time this year. She loved the family-friendly atmosphere and felt inspired by all the moms who are open about their struggles with maternal mental health and how they overcame them. “I brought my 2-year-old daughter Lily with me, and she loved the bubbles, crafts and seeing all the other kids,” Robert says. “But it also means everything that she is surrounded by these strong, resilient moms. I’ll keep bringing her back to the Hope Walk, so she can grow up knowing this community.”

As the sun sets on this year’s Hope Walk, we are still accepting donations to provide support to Northwest Indiana moms and their families. For more information, click here: www.zeffy.com/en-US/peer-to-peer/hope-walk--2026.

Thank you for your continued support of the Center!