Now in its seventh year, the Thanksgiving Day Trot Against Hunger to benefit the Harvest Food and Outreach Center saw its largest number of participants to date, drawn by an absolutely picture-perfect day and the chance to contribute toward special holiday meals for those less fortunate.
Better known as the Turkey Trot, the 5K Run/Walk presented by George E. Warren drew 1,450 runners from all around the country – snowbirds and northern visitors clad in shorts looking on in amusement at bundled-up locals shivering in the nippy morning air.
“It has gotten huge; it’s grown significantly,” said Jamie Jackson, Harvest’s Director of Institutional Advancement. “It started out with just a few hundred people and it grew into this. We’ve always had a lot of families, but this year we’re really seeing a boom in work groups signing up together, which is great. It means that people are having fun and they’re bringing along their families and friends. We’re really excited about that.”
“We had 1,250 pre-register; the rest registered today,” said Allison Zukowski of Runner’s Depot, which coordinates registrants and race details for what has quickly become the area’s largest race.
An army of volunteers arrive in the wee pre-dawn hours, fortified by hot coffee donated by Starbucks, to get everything in order before the crowds begin to arrive. And arrive they did – as helpers directed a steady stream of cars that eventually filled paved and grassy parking areas.
Colorful turkey hats and other head coverings made quirky fashion statements – from cooked turkeys, complete with paper leg frills, to full gobblers, with legs used as ear warmers. There were also Thanksgiving-themed head bands and feathered headdresses, all bobbing in the breeze, as participants greeted friends and posed for photos.
A few did more than just talk turkey. Trevor Spicer went all out, wearing a headless turkey suit, ‘cooked’ and stuffed with pillow batting. “Some assembly required,” joked Spicer, peering out from a tiny mesh opening. “Last year I just had a turkey hat. This year I went full turkey.”
Commenting on her impressive “uncooked” turkey suit, Amy Dingler said with a laugh, “I’m running away so I don’t get stuffed!”
Eager young gobblers started things off with a children’s sprint to Memorial Island and back before the official race began. Quite a few dogs joined in the fun, happily running alongside, or pulling along, their human companions. A new official category was added this year to acknowledge the large number of moms and dads running with strollers.
“You are providing so much to those in need this holiday season, and we can’t thank you enough,” said Master of Ceremonies Hamp Elliott of The Breeze 93.7 FM.
The Catering by Adrienne Drew crew – mother Mimi Drew, Chef Lasonja Ealy, husband Dwight Perry and her “right hand” Suzy Liddel – joined her at the pavilion by 4:45 a.m. to start cooking the after-race Sweet Potato Pancake Breakfast. This was their second year, and Drew said, “We’re more organized this year; this is like the improved version.”
They clearly had it down to a science, browning the sausage links Drew donated and flipping more than 2,000 pancakes on the spot using gallons of cinnamon-scented pancake batter donated by Marsh Landing Restaurant. Augmented by juices from Natalie’s Orchid Island Juice and water provided by Vatland Honda, breakfast was served with a smile by volunteers from CenterState Bank and Hands for Harvest.
The top individual fundraiser in the Turkey Trot Challenge wished to remain anonymous, but second- and third-place plaques were presented to Diane Snipes and Susan Ferrara. The top team fundraiser was FL Eyes Girls and Guys from Florida Eye Institute. Second and third place went to Team Jezebel and John’s Island Real Estate Company.
Harvest hosted its annual Turkey Outreach the Tuesday before Thanksgiving, providing 300 Thanksgiving meals – frozen 20-pound turkeys plus side dishes – to its Indian River County program participants and clients from partner agencies. The organization did the same at its St. Lucie County and Orlando campuses.
“This time of year gives us an opportunity to award those people who are striving for self-sufficiency to have a traditional Thanksgiving meal; the type that we’ve become accustomed to,” said Harvest founder Austin Hunt. “This event helps pay for that. These families might not have that opportunity otherwise.”
“This year we charged them $2 for the dinner; it’s in alignment with our mission,” said Jackson. “There’s something that happens with a person’s spirit when you just hand them something. When they are paying you, it’s a simple transaction. They have a sense of pride that they bought their family’s dinner. They can go home and feel proud; they keep their dignity. It’s such a huge part of helping them to regain their lives.”
In addition to Harvest’s cost-share grocery, services include crisis care, case management, education, employment and empowerment training, and referrals to other service providers.
“When people volunteer their time at our food pantry, we give them food vouchers. It’s a very equitable exchange,” Jackson explained. “Instead of handing something to them, they’ve earned it; they’re working for it.”
Top finishers, male and female, were Gene Mitchell, age 47 at 17:09 and Judi Leung, age 33 at 19:54.
