Dr. Mark Fisherkeller is a physician who practiced in Willimantic and Windham Hospital for 35 years. In August, he will be biking The Great Allegheny Passage (G.A.P) from Washington, D.C. to Pittsburgh, PA. He will ride the 333 miles through the G.A.P. to help fill a gap: "to support those in need cared for by the Holy Family Home and Shelter" (HFHS) in Willimantic, CT.

HFHS offers emergency housing to individuals and families experiencing homelessness. HFHS likes to say that "it runs just like your home, and the things you need are the things we need." One of the largest problems they run into is how to fill the gap between their available funds and actually being able to meet the needs of the guests living at the shelter.

Dr. Fisherkeller is looking for your help to support his journey to help Fill the Gap! He shares that "those who are familiar with the shelter and its works know that it is a place of humanitarian assistance to those in great need. For 40 years it has provided transient shelter and home for the neediest of our peoples. It provides shelter, food, clothing, education to women and women with young families in crisis."

While he rides along the Chesapeake & Ohio Towpath, which is the canal following the Potomac River linking Georgetown to Cumberland Maryland, and then the B&O rails to trails over the continental divide to Pittsburgh, each mile will be ridden in unison with your prayers and financial support, filling the gap and filling our hearts with great gratitude for your kindness. The difference you will make cannot truly be measured, but filling that gap is priceless! His goal is to raise funds for the Holy Family Home and Shelter (HFHS), exploring this historic region by bicycle ~ an added bonus.

His story will begin August 9, 2025 and you are welcome to come along through his posts and pictures. Dr. Fisherkeller will share the history, things seen, interesting peoples, breakdowns and the joys, mud and downturns of his ride.

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HFHS is committed to providing shelter, case management, and basic needs to help individuals address their unique challenges so that they can build brighter futures for themselves and their families.

If you are homeless, or on the verge of becoming homeless, please call 2-1-1, select Option 3, then Option 1. You will be added to the State of Connecticut's Wait List, which is the list we use when we have available beds.

Fill the Gap

Meeting needs and filling hearts one mile at a time

Team Members