Hinesburg, VT—On Saturday, May 20th, 2017, the United Church of Hinesburg will host its fifth annual Hearts for Hunger 5K/1K Fun Run & Walk fundraiser to benefit the Vermont Foodbank’s BackPack Program.
This annual fun run is a highlight for the Vermont Foodbank each year and for everyone who is committed to ensuring that all children in our community have the healthy food they need to learn and grow. A passionate group of community members from the United Church of Hinesburg make this happen each year, working hard to organize and rally their community around this important cause.
“Hearts for Hunger was created to help address childhood hunger in our community,” says event organizer, Meaghan McKenna. “Each and every one of us can make a difference – this event is proof of that. It has grown exponentially from an intention to alleviate the hunger burden so many children face, to becoming a major event contributor to the Vermont Foodbank’s Backpack Program. Together we are making a difference in our state, and I’m so proud to be a part of it.”
Since the event’s inception in 2013, Hearts for Hunger has raised more than $22,000 for the Vermont Foodbank’s BackPack program. This program provides bags of kid-friendly, nutritious food for hungry elementary school children to take home over the weekends. Many of these students rely on free and reduced lunches during the week. This program ensures that they have the nourishment they need over the weekend, so they can return to school on Monday, well-fed and ready to learn. This school year, the Vermont Foodbank provided roughly 45,000 bags of food to 1,250 children through the BackPack Program.
“We are so grateful to everyone in the community who makes this incredible event possible –the organizers, runners, walkers all set an inspiring example of how we can work together to be a part of solving hunger,” says John Sayles, Vermont Foodbank CEO. “With their help, the Foodbank can ensure that the 34,000 Vermont children who face hunger have the healthy food they need to thrive. We hope you will lace up your running shoes and join us Saturday!”
For detailed race information and to register online, visit: https://heartsforhunger5k.webconnex.com/5thannual2017.
Race day registration begins at 8AM on Saturday, May 20th at the CVU High School in Hinesburg. The walk begins at 9AM, and run at 9:20AM.
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Vermont Foodbank is the state’s largest hunger-relief organization, providing nutritious food through a network of more than 300 community partners – food shelves, meal sites, schools, hospitals, and housing sites. Food insecurity has increased dramatically as a result of the pandemic, economic disruptions, and recent flooding. The Vermont Foodbank and its network have been on the front lines, working to ensure that everyone has the food they need to maintain their health. Last year, the Vermont Foodbank provided over 12 million pounds of food to people throughout Vermont. The Vermont Foodbank, a member of Feeding America, is nationally recognized as one of the most effective and efficient nonprofits and food banks in the nation.
