Advocates against poverty will participate in a rally on Saturday morning at the fifth annual Unity March.

The walk plans to raise awareness concerning a referendum in place to increase the city of Champaign Township budget by two cents per $100 of assessed property value.

“Apart from the general things that the money will enhance, the two cents will generate about $300,000,” said Linda Abernathy, township supervisor.

“The money will help restore monthly grants for people who are considered to be in extreme poverty.”

C-U Citizens for Peace and Justice are responsible for organizing the march. The theme to this year’s walk is “The Many Faces of Poverty”.

The march will begin at 603 S. Randolph St. and travel down Washington Street. A rally and reception will end the walk at Douglass Park.

“Every year, the Unity March is about bringing people together from campus, from the community, from both sides of University Avenue,” said organizer Brian Dolinar. “We will be successful if the November 4 referendum is passed.”

Groups sponsoring the march include Central Illinois Jobs with Justice, School for Designing a Society and University Coalition of Trades and Labor Unions.

The first stride will be at 11:00 a.m.

“This is a diverse event like no other in Champaign-Urbana,” Dolinar said.