What Is Polar Walk?
Polar Walk was introduced to the Rockhurst community in 1996; it is a three-mile walk through the neighborhoods west of Rockhurst and around Loose Park. Polar Walk funds are traditionally donated to help residents of Kansas City prepare or compensate for the cold winter months.

Polar Walk is preceded by a Week of Service in which the Rockhurst campus community is encouraged to spend time serving with Kansas City organizations and collecting food and clothing items to be donated to members of the community. Events held during the week include a penguin painting, a blood drive, clothing drive, campus-wide service day, a service fair, and a pep rally. Other organizations also are encouraged to sponsor their own events throughout the week. The week concludes with "Polar Walk", a three-mile roundtrip walk from campus to Loose Park and back.

Past Beneficiaries
1996: Project Warmth
           Rockhurst University 100 Mile Club

1997: Ronald McDOnald House
           St. Vincent's Family Center
           Rockhurst Community Fitness Program

1999: Habitat for Humanity
           House built by Rockhurst students over Spring Break 2000

2001: Project Warmth

2003: St. Francis Xavier Parish Emergency Assistance Program
           Salvation Army

2004: Project Warmth
In 1982 The Kansas City Star and KCTV5 teamed up to sponsor the Project Warmth campaign.   Since 1982 this campaign has collected 1,684 tons of food, clothing, blankets and non-perishable food.   (PLUS 97 tons just collected on 11/8/03)! All cash collections are given to the Salvation Army and Mid America Assistance Coalition (MAAC) for distribution to those in need for utility assistance, rent, weatherization, etc. Project Warmth now serves eight-counties: Cass, Clay, Jackson, Platte and Ray in Missouri; Johnson, Leavenworth and Wyandotte in Kansas
          
           Holy Family House
Holy Family House is a community in the Catholic Worker tradition, where a small number of persons choose to live simply and nonviolently in the neighborhood of poor persons. The community calls its home a "house of hospitality," and it is dedicated to a ministry of the works of mercy and the works of justice: providing meals, clothing and shelter to those in need and advocating for justice in systems and structures oppressing the poor.
            St. Francis Xavier Parish Food Pantry
Believing that "Every person has the right to life, to bodily integrity, and to the means which are necessary and suitable for the proper development of life" ( The Catholic Church's Pacem in Terris), St. Francis Xavier Parish's Social Ministry team strives to meet the needs of all who ask for help.   Canned food collected during Polar Week will go to St. Francis Xavier to help them achieve this goal.

2007: All cash collections is going to the Project Warmth Campaign. While, handmade Valentine’s Day cards and treats are being donated to Children’s Mercy Hospital.
2007 summary: Through the efforts of our students, faculty, and staff we were able to raise money to donate to Project Warmth; make over 100 handmade Valentine’s Day cards for Children’s Mercy; and collect over 70 units of blood for local hospitals. On the day of the walk, we had around 60 walkers turn out despite the bitter cold temperatures and the snow and ice covered sidewalks. Thank you to all who helped in this effort. Stay tuned for more information on Polar Walk Week of Service 2008!