5K Hunger Run
October 20, 2012
Today I participated in a 5K Hunger Run for Loaves and Fishes in Devens Ma. Loaves and Fishes provides food and temporary support to residents of Ayer, Devens, Groton, Harvard, Littleton and Shirley MA. My company has become more and more aware of things we can do within the community to donate our time, money or services to help those in need and this is one of the organizations we have hooked up with. Last year at Thanksgiving I was able to volunteer to help out at the food pantry and work the day they had the doors open for Thanksgiving pickup. This year I will be away for that, but I was thrilled when my boss asked who wanted to participate in the 5K to raise money for the food pantry!!
As we all lined up at the starting line, Patricia (Patty) Stern spoke over the intercom reminding us all who and what we were raising money for. She reminded us that the people who use the pantry could be any one of us, or any one of the people that we know in our lives. There are elderly people who are making a choice between prescriptions and food, young mothers, families who were doing ok than struck by the economy, disabled people, homeless people and many more. I feel the best thing about Loaves in fishes is that they really help people to get back on their feet and not just provide them with food to continue living on assistance.
The key point that Patty was making really stuck with me, how these people are fighting the fight. Most are thankful for the services and ashamed that they need assistance. They are so greatful for those who can come out and so something like what we were doing to raise money to help them. I used that, kept that in my mind and helped it push me along while I was running. I was thinking how easy it would be to just give up, let the tiredness take over... but life is just not that easy. You have to fight, you have to push yourself and you have to really give it everything you've got.
I have the means to give, so I will give. I will pay it forward.
5K - 28:11 <----PR!
.
Today I participated in a 5K Hunger Run for Loaves and Fishes in Devens Ma. Loaves and Fishes provides food and temporary support to residents of Ayer, Devens, Groton, Harvard, Littleton and Shirley MA. My company has become more and more aware of things we can do within the community to donate our time, money or services to help those in need and this is one of the organizations we have hooked up with. Last year at Thanksgiving I was able to volunteer to help out at the food pantry and work the day they had the doors open for Thanksgiving pickup. This year I will be away for that, but I was thrilled when my boss asked who wanted to participate in the 5K to raise money for the food pantry!!
As we all lined up at the starting line, Patricia (Patty) Stern spoke over the intercom reminding us all who and what we were raising money for. She reminded us that the people who use the pantry could be any one of us, or any one of the people that we know in our lives. There are elderly people who are making a choice between prescriptions and food, young mothers, families who were doing ok than struck by the economy, disabled people, homeless people and many more. I feel the best thing about Loaves in fishes is that they really help people to get back on their feet and not just provide them with food to continue living on assistance.
The key point that Patty was making really stuck with me, how these people are fighting the fight. Most are thankful for the services and ashamed that they need assistance. They are so greatful for those who can come out and so something like what we were doing to raise money to help them. I used that, kept that in my mind and helped it push me along while I was running. I was thinking how easy it would be to just give up, let the tiredness take over... but life is just not that easy. You have to fight, you have to push yourself and you have to really give it everything you've got.
I have the means to give, so I will give. I will pay it forward.
5K - 28:11 <----PR!
.
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