Celebrating our 50th Anniversary with a Community FOOD ON THE RUN

At Calvary on Apollo Beach, we wanted to do something extraordinary that we have never done before to kick off our anniversary year. So we decided to create a 5K run and 1 mile fun run/walk to raise community awareness and provide resources to benefit Calvary Church’s Community Cupboard which now feeds 2000+ people per week! The all volunteer Cupboard has been in existence for 37 years beginning with a collection barrel in the Narthex to a growing pantry costing about $55,000 and distributing 500,000 pounds of food per year.
We wanted the community to learn more about the Cupboard, and the companion Angel Attic Thrift Shop what supports food purchases for the pantry. We also wanted the community to be introduced to ways in which they could serve and help change the lives of others!

We engaged the services of a race manager, began seeking out sponsors, developed a list of volunteers and began to pray that this event would bring people together for a grand purpose.
The event will be held at E.G. Simmons Park in Ruskin, FL on Saturday, September 30th. We urge you to come out, enjoy the beautiful 5K and 1 Mile paved courses as they wind their way through the wooded Park on the banks of Tampa Bay. Get a team together from your church or join up with Pastor Jack (1mile) or Pastor Rob (5K). Please share this information with your family, neighbors, co-workers, gym-rats for it is Holy work.

For all the information, go to www.racehawk.com and click on the Food on the Run logo. It will walk you through the whole process.

5K participants will receive an insulated cooler bag filled with sponsor information and goodies. The overall fastest male and female runners will be receiving an award. AND 1st, 2nd, and 3rd place finishers for both male and females will receive medals in each of 10 age groups. 1 mile finishers will receive a finisher medal.

You can also be charitable in another way by signing up to be a Virtual Runner. For this donation, you are able to “enjoy” the race in the comfort of your home, watching TV with your cup of morning coffee. For whatever it is that you would normally do on Saturday, September 30th, you will receive a sponsorship certificate.

We even have a family that has donated $500.00 as an ETERNAL VIRTUAL GIFT. Many sponsors have donated some nifty items for door prizes. We are asking folks to donate a used pair of shoes (running or otherwise) for an additional door prize ticket! These will be given to Community Cupboard clients in need.

Pray with us that we might be blessed with good weather and lots of participants so that we might be a blessing to others.

Submitted by Nan Ryan, Calvary Member and Race Coordinator