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Date: 4/20/2022
WESTFIELD — May is National Foster Care Month, and All Our Kids (AOK) is celebrating with the AOK Sundae Funday 5K Race and Family Fun Festival at Stanley Park in Westfield on May 7.
This event raises funds for All Our Kids Inc., an organization that supports and advocates for foster and adoptive families in Western Massachusetts.
The Sundae Funday 5K is several events in one: a 5K run, a 1-mile Family Walk, a Kid’s Fun Run and a Family Fun Festival. “It’s the AOK event we couldn’t hold in 2020 or 2021, and we’re thrilled to be planning it for 2022,” said race organizers.
Registration and check-in is at 9 a.m., the race and walk start at 10 a.m., the Kids Fun Run at 11 a.m. and the Family Fun Festival from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m.
Families may register for one or more events, compete for fundraising prizes and enjoy ice cream sundaes. There will be medals for all the kids, carnival games, face painting, crafts, activities, music and entertainment.
For more information and to register, visit www.FosteringAOK.org/AOK5K. Families may create a fundraiser and compete for prizes whether they register to run or walk, or not. For families that raise $500, registration is free.
West Springfield residents Rachel and Jory Taylor and their foster daughter Gianna, 5, will be participating in the one-mile family walk. They have created a family fundraiser “Team Taylor,” and are making T-shirts for the occasion.
“All Our Kids have been great for us. It’s nice to see other blended families and do outings with them — it’s a really good community to be a part of,” said Rachel.
She said they were first introduced to the organization by another foster family when they became a family a year and a half ago, and they have since participated in many events with AOK, including roller skating in the fall.
Taylor said it makes a difference because as a foster family, there is not that much support.
“There are no baby showers,” she said.
In addition to offering fun activities, AOK gives families the opportunity to talk with people that are going through similar things.
“You have a village of people who are there for you. I don’t think we would have as much support if it wasn’t for AOK. Everybody is so friendly and helpful, and they help everybody through every aspect of it,” Taylor added.
To support Team Taylor, visit runsignup.com/teamtaylorlove.
Another supporter who plans to participate in the race is Susan Crane of Westfield, who retired as a social worker from the state Department of Children and Families in 2013.
“I will always hold a special place in my heart for the foster and adoptive families that I supported over the years,” Crane said, adding that AOK is open to help all foster and adoptive families in Western Massachusetts.
For more information on the event, visit fosteringaok.org or All Our Kids — Fostering Community on Facebook.