South Cobbbers Walk to School for Georgia Walk to School Day

Students, parents and community leaders from all over South Cobb gathered together to walk students to school on Wednesday morning for Georgia's Walk to School Day.

The event is an initiative by Safe Routes to School of Georgia. The Georgia Department of Transportation received $16.9 million from 2005 to 2009 as part of the five-year bill, Safe, Accountable, Flexible, Efficient Transportation Equity Act: A Legacy for Users. The entirety of that funding is used for Safe Routes to School of Georgia and other eligible projects.

About 10 students and five parents walked from a nearby gas station to and schools with their parents, and Rep. Alisha Morgan (D-Austell) also met the group to walk a little as well. The event was organized by Monica DeLancy, a South Cobb mother and community leader.

Ms. Gloria, a popular Zumba instructor in South Cobb, also walked with the group and got everyone moving with her upbeat tunes and fitness dance moves.

 “I just needed the exercise,” said Latonya Clifton, whose 9-year-old son is a student at Riverside Intermediate. “My son’s having fun because he doesn’t get to do stuff like this.”

The parents and children there felt it was important to get out and be active, but also to emphasize the need for sidewalks in the area. The mothers participating said they wanted to show their support of the children.

Edwina Varner, whose son attends Riverside Intermediate, said she participated in the event “first of all, to show my son that I do care and I do love him. Spending every little time with him counts. Second, the exercise is wonderful.”

had a larger turnout of about 225 students and about 55 parents and volunteers, but parents and community leaders expressed similar sentiments.

“Hopefully it will emphasize the fact that we need some safe routes to school around here because right now, there’s not that many,” said Lisa Herold, Mableton Elementary PTA member.

Students, parents and community members walked from to Mableton Elementary.  Michelle Moday, SafeRoutes coordinator for the school, was a large part of organizing the event, which had participation from Cheryl Mayerik of Lifelong Mableton, Cobb County police and SafeKids/Wellstar.

After the large turnout and success of the event, it's no surprise this event will not be a one-time deal.

"We're hoping to have another walk day in April and another in May and then we may work to coordinate a bicycle rodeo in the Spring or Fall of next year," says Moday.