Churches, governments, non-profits and local residents will gather together to raise food for the hungry and raise spirits in the third annual Walk By Faith on Jan. 4.

Rockdale County Chairman Richard Oden, Rockdale Emergency Relief Executive Director Andy Peabody, Senior Pastor Eric W. Lee and Minister Brian Russell of Springfield Baptist Church, and other civic and community organizations will host the event.

The 1.1 mile-walk will start on Sat., Jan. 4 at the Salem Gate Plaza parking lot in Conyers near Highway 138 and Old Salem Road and will conclude at Springfield Baptist Church, 1877 Iris Dr. The staging will take place at 9 a.m.

Participants are asked to bring five or more dry or canned good items so that the community can fill the local food pantry shelves.

The Ray Davis Middle School marching band will play music while leading the walk to Springfield.

"This is a great first event of the year for the community to come together on one accord with positive, powerful energy," Oden said.

The L.C. Palmer Community Service Award also will be presented to a Rockdale resident who has demonstrated diligent community service in the areas of health and human services, education, youth issues, elderly services, and socio/economic support. Palmer, a deacon at Rockdale Baptist Church and former school principal, was one of the early organizers of the Walk by Faith event.