The Hope Interfaith Center in Mankato on Saturday will hold the first of what it hopes will be many fundraising events to promote peace.

It’s “first annual Peace Walk” will follow a 1.5-mile circular route that starts and ends at the HIC, 114 Pohl Road.

The entry fee is $15, with proceeds going to the purchase of a peace pole. HIC hopes to gift that pole to the First Congregational United Church of Christ.

HIC’s Penny Tower said the group has already gifted peace poles to spiritual communities in Israel and elsewhere in the Middle East.

They’ve also gifted a peace pole to the city, which sits in a little park near the intersection of Riverfront Drive and Madison Avenue.

“We really, really invite everyone to come,” Tower said. “There is power in numbers. And not power as in physical power, but in prayer and positive energy.”

If you haven’t visited HIC in a while, they have been at a new location since June. And to anyone unfamiliar with HIC, Tower says, “If we had to label ourselves, we’d label ourselves a spiritual center,” she said. “Our motto is ‘All sacred pathways are honored.’”

Anyone from any religion is welcome at HIC, and welcome at Saturday’s Peace Walk.

It starts at the HIC and heads to Balcerzak Drive, then goes left on a walking path that circles back and around to the HIC.

Tower says anyone curious should come give it a try.

“They can have two or three hours of being in a space with other people that are in the attitude of (joy and peace and love),” she said.