VERO BEACH — The Harvest Food and Outreach Center is kicking off Thanksgiving Day with its 7th annual, family friendly “Trot Against Hunger.”
The community is invited to join in the fun while also making a tremendous impact on poverty-related hunger.
It’s a great way to work off the heavy Thanksgiving meal in advance, celebrate our national holiday of thanks with family, and support programs and services that impact poverty-related hunger in the community.
Registration is currently underway at www.TrotAgainstHunger.org until Nov. 20, stop into Runner’s Depot in Vero Beach from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. (Mon.-Sat.) through Nov. 26, or at the event from 6:30 to 7:30 a.m. on Nov. 27.
In keeping with tradition, in addition to the 5K race/walk, which begins at 7:30 a.m. sharp, Harvest’s free Sweet Potato Pancake Breakfast will be served beginning at 8 a.m. for race participants, as well as spectators to enjoy. Catering by Adrienne Drew will be cooking up sausages and sweet potato pancakes (batter provided by Marsh Landing) and Natalie’s Orchid Island Juice will provide juice. Vatland Honda is providing bottled water.
Radio sponsors, The Breeze 93.7 FM and CenterState Bank, will also be on hand with radio host Hamp Elliott emceeing, the crew from CenterState Bank serving breakfast and employees from both organizations lending a hand wherever they are needed. This marks the sixth year that 93.7 The Breeze has sponsored the Trot and the second year for CenterState Bank.
A free half-mile Children’s Race, for ages 6-10, begins at 7:15 a.m. with medals provided for all who participate.
Vero Insurance is underwriting the 2014 awards, which begin at 9 a.m. and include recognition of top three in each category broken out by age and sex, with the exception of an overall award for the Stroller Division.
New to this year’s event, is recognition of top three Trot Fundraising Champions. Learn about becoming a Champion at www.TrotAgainstHunger.org by clicking “Start Fundraising.” Champions can sign up as a team or individual. For every $1 raised, three meals can be provided to a person or family in need.
Harvest’s services include crisis care, case management, transformative education, food and household subsidy, employment training and placement, personal empowerment training and active referrals to other collaborative social service providers.
To date sponsors for the 7th Annual Thanksgiving Day Trot Against Hunger include Adam’s Lock & Safe, The Breeze 93.7 FM, Catering by Adrienne Drew, CenterState Bank, Countryside Citrus, Dale Sorensen Real Estate, Fidelity, George E. Warren Corporation, Glendale Trade Center, Helmet House Construction, Law Office of Gray M. Camfield, Marsh Landing Restaurant, Natalie’s Orchid Island Juice, Rossway Swan Tierney Barry, Vatland Honda, Vero Insurance, VF Outlets, Press-Journal/Vero Newsweekly, Seald Sweet. Corporate Advocates include Bimbo Bakeries, CVC/Caremark, Flowers Foods, Fresh Market, Frito-Lay, Tropicana, Walmart and Winn Dixie. Sponsorships are still available to be included in items for goody bags and appear on event signage.
Harvest Food and Outreach Center, founded in 2003 by Austin and Ginny Hunt in Indian River County, provides a holistic, multi-component approach that provides a hand up to those living at or under the 200 percent federal poverty level.
Harvest’s unique model offers a comprehensive three-tiered approach to lifting people out of poverty through: 1) a Hunger Relief Program that includes an Emergency Food Box and Cost Share Grocery Program, 2) a Crisis Center that stabilizes people in crisis through counseling and active referrals to services, and 3) Education and Employment Opportunity Programs that address the source of the problem and provides long term solutions for those in need toward self-sufficiency.
Harvest also conducts tours of its central Indian River County campus on Thursdays, 11:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. For more information about Harvest or to book a tour visit www.harvestfoodoutreach.org, or call (772)-778-3977.