Thank you to the Turkey Trot for donation
If you were driving down Green St. in Fairhaven, by Cushman Park’s running track before 8 a.m. on Thanksgiving morning, you undoubtedly witnessed a bunch of runners shivering in the cold. Why, you ask, would they subject themselves to the coldest Thanksgiving on record instead of being in a warm house with their loved ones, getting ready for a day of festivities? The answer was that they were getting ready to run the annual Turkey Trot. They knew that their entry fees would go to benefit the Shepherd’s Pantry, located in Acushnet. Not only were their fees going to help local needy families but their combined donation of over 3,000 pounds of non-perishable food that was also collected that morning, would find its way to the pantry later that morning.
Last August I approached both the Greater New Bedford Track Club (GNBTC) and Union Running, located in Fairhaven, if they would consider taking over the responsibilities of running the Turkey Trot. I had, in the back of my mind, to entice them, before they made a decision, that they would receive a percentage of the proceeds for their respective track clubs. After all, doing all of the work that they would need to do was quite a huge undertaking. However, they emphatically declined to accept any percentage of the proceeds to benefit themselves. They just wanted to help out the pantry by donating all monies, after expenses.
“AWESOME and THANK YOU,” was my answer. Of the 628 folks who registered for the road race, a little over 400 of them ran it in the bitter cold.
I want to thank all of the runners and the volunteers but especially, Eric Tavares, president of the GNBTC and Rick Racine, both of whom were directors of the race. Also, Union Running, owned by Erin Carr and Nicki Harrington and all others not mentioned in this letter for their heartfelt contribution for the success of this annual venture.
God bless you all.
Sincerely, Gerry Payette, Shepherds Pantry Director
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