The Interfaith Food Pantry and Literacy Volunteers of Morris County will host their fifth annual “Turkey Trot” 5k race and 1 mile fun run/walk, Thanksgiving morning, Thursday November 24th at the Ginty Field Complex In Morris Township . Registration begins at 7:00am and the USATF certified race will start promptly at 8:30am. Sponsored by The Sweetie Pig Foundation, the rain or shine event includes a 5k race, 1 mile fun run/ walk, a Kid’s Trot(12 and under), music, refreshments, awards and t-shirts. Entry fees are $25 if received by November 19th and $30 after that or on race day. Kids trot registration with shirt is $10. Preregistration is at www.practicehard.com. All proceeds from the event will benefit the Interfaith Food Pantry and Literacy Volunteers of Morris County.
Last year, the race drew 2,200 runners raising approximately $20,000 for each agency.
“It’s a great way to burn off those calories before your Thanksgiving dinner, and a really fun way to help many Morris County families with their basic needs”, said Rosemary Gilmartin, Executive Director of the Interfaith Food Pantry. “Literacy Volunteers of Morris County and the Interfaith Food Pantry serve many of the same clients. It’s difficult enough to get by in the current economy, and a lack of literacy in English is a nearly impossible barrier to overcome to reach higher paying jobs. Together with the Literacy Volunteers we can have a great impact in helping people help themselves.”
According to the LVMC, one in five adults in New Jersey have difficulty reading, writing and communicating in English. The agency provides free one-on-one and small group tutoring in basic English and ELS to Morris County adults with over 500 students currently enrolled. The Interfaith Food Pantry currently supplies supplemental groceries to almost 5,000 households, primarily low-income workers and senior citizens living on fixed incomes. The Pantry distributes 14,000 pounds of food every week to Morris County residents. For more information, visit www.lvamorris.org or www.mcifp.org.
