Taking off on Sacramento’s J Street, Country Day’s Run to Feed the Hungry team, consisting of 111 entrees, won the annual race on Thanksgiving morning.
In the past 14 years, Country Day raised a total of $140,000. The 2021 event marked the 15th time that Country Day supported the Sacramento Food Bank and Family Services, raising a total of $5,630.75.
“It’s a community-wide event to help raise money for those in need. And the Sacramento Food Bank has seven programs that are sponsored by Run to Feed the Hungry,” said Director of Physical Education Michelle Myers.
In order to race, students, faculty, or parents paid a registration fee that went to the fundraiser. The organization that gets the most sign ups ‘wins.’
The race featured a loop course, starting on J Street, west of the school campus, that ran through the tree-lined streets of East Sacramento.
The event was organized by Myers and freshman Andrew Burr.
Burr said the hardest part of organizing the event was getting students to sign up and donate.
“They can donate without showing up or they can donate and show up,” he said. “There’s a lot of freedom.”
This year Country Day’s team took home the Run to Feed the Hungry trophy.
For Myers, knowing that their contributions will help people in need is more important than winning.
“It always feels wonderful to win, but more importantly, it feels wonderful that we were able to contribute dollars to the food bank to buy things for people,” she said.
Freshman Wyatt Hall took part in a Run to Feed the Hungry. For Hall the best part of the event was seeing all the other runners.
“Just seeing all the people lined up to start was incredible,” Hall said. “It feels good to donate a lot of money to feed the hungry.”
Burr recommends that everyone sign up next year.
“It’s for a good cause. If you sign up you’re helping people that need the help,” Burr said.
“Remember you don’t even have to run or walk or be in town Thanksgiving to join the team,” he said.
“Whether you run, walk, sleep in, or travel for Thanksgiving, you will be helping the Sacramento Food Bank and all the people who are in need in our community,” Burr said.
— By Ishaan Sekhon
