GraceWorks Turkey Trot gobbles up support
The 15th annual Turkey Trot 5k in Cool Springs hosted by GraceWorks Ministries has registered over 2,500 runners and raised nearly $100,000 for the organization’s fundraiser.
The run is the largest fundraiser put on by GraceWorks during the year and will help raise funds for over 20 of the organization’s programs like the food pantry, medical supplies and the Our Little Angels program.
GraceWorks President and CEO Tina Edwards said the funds help the organization expand in the area.
“The funds raised from the Turkey Trot allow us to continue meeting the basic needs of our community and have given us some of the needed financial resources to expand the number of people we have helped and the type of help we have given,” Edwards said.
“Expanded mentoring and education training have been directly impacted by the money raised through the Turkey Trot. The Turkey Trot gives around 4,000 people an entry point to GraceWorks, a way to get introduced to GraceWorks for the first time or to get a better understanding of what our mission is and how we fulfill that mission.”
So far in 2015, GraceWorks has provided aid to 16,000 people with close to 50,000 needs, an 18 percent increase from 2014. For Thanksgiving, the nonprofit has given out 350 food baskets this year.
Development Director of GraceWorks, Kristi Sylvester, said the organization was pleased with the outpouring of support from the locals.
“We’re so excited that the community has taken the race and made it a family tradition,” Sylvester said. “Families can get out and get their exercise then go home to eat their turkey. Along with that, we hope that they understand that there are also families that may not have as much as they have and that there is a need, even in Williamson County, for families to have a nice Thanksgiving meal. Having us help them provide their food or keeping a roof over their head or things like that, that we can take for granted.
“So it’s an awareness event too so that people understand there are families out there that have some needs as well.”
The Turkey Trot will be held Thursday, Nov. 26 at 8 a.m. The Kids Kilometer Fun Run will begin at 9 a.m. Participants and onlookers must park in the adjacent CoolSprings Galleria parking lot and walk to the start line at the D1 Sports Complex. Prizes will be awarded to the top three overall finishes, top three 40 and up, as well as door prizes for best costumes among others.
Runners can register the day of the race at D1 Sports Complex in Cool Springs where the race will be held.
