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Date: 11/10/2021
EAST LONGMEADOW – For the 10th year running, area residents will take time on Thanksgiving morning to help food-insecure people in the greater Springfield area by participating in the Stuffing the Pantry 5K.
The Open Pantry is a private, nonprofit organization helping those who are experiencing food insecurity, homelessness and are otherwise disadvantaged. The 2020 Stuffing the Pantry 5K raised $46,000 and a truckload of food for the pantry.
“The event has a huge impact on our organization and, in particular, our Emergency Food Pantry,” said Kim A. Kennedy, development director for Open Pantry Community Services. “Over $298,000 has been raised along with over 11,000 pounds of food,” in the 10 years since Stuffing the Pantry began. “It is one of the largest events that is held annually for Open Pantry.”
Kicking off at 8 a.m. from American Saw, 301 Chestnut St., the 5K will take athletes east on Chestnut Street, south down Shaker Road to Industrial Drive. The route then turns south down Benton Drive before taking a left onto Denslow Drive and following the Redstone Rail Trail back to Chestnut Street to end near the start line.
Participants who registered by Nov. 6 were guaranteed a long-sleeve, special edition 10th Anniversary commemorative T-shirt, which can be picked up at 4RUN3, 78 Center Square, East Longmeadow, from Nov. 22 to Nov. 24, between 11 a.m. and 6 p.m. Registration can be done on race day, at shirt pick up, online or by mailing a check payable to “Stuffing the Pantry,” to Stuffing the Pantry, Charlie Casartello, 118 Duxbury Ln., Longmeadow, MA 01106. The registration fee for adults is $30 plus a food donation. For those age 18 and under, the fee is $25 and a food donation. The fee is $5 more on race day.
Stuffing the Pantry is still looking for race sponsors. Sponsors receive their name on the race-day t-shirt, recognition on the Stuffing the Pantry website and a commemorative certificate. For each $500 in sponsorship, there are two complimentary registrations and T-shirts.
For more information on the race, visit http://www.stuffingthepantry.org. To learn more about the Open Pantry, visit http://www.openpantry.org.