How did the Give ‘n’ Gobble Thanksgiving Day Run start? How many years has it been around?
I was inspired to start this event after volunteering for Helping Hands a few years ago when I witnessed food bank organizers Velma Wooley and Alice Thorton in action. These women are my heroes; they have dedicated countless hours to helping get food to families going through tough times. They shared stories of local families that haven’t eaten in days and mothers who can’t afford baby food. It was shocking to see how many families in our community are really hurting. It is unthinkable. I felt that if these inspirational women could make such a big difference, I wanted to help in some small way. There are so many runners and walkers in this area that are out there on Thanksgiving rain or shine anyway - why not do it together and for a good cause?
Who benefits from the registration fees?
Proceeds from this event go to Helping Hands, a food bank affiliated with the Oregon Food Bank. They have been around since 1974 and have fed thousands and thousands of families.
How much of the actual registration fees goes to Oregon families?
Our goal is to donate 100% of the registration fees to the food bank. Typically, sponsor contributions cover all of the event expenses - including professional timing, materials, permits, printing, insurance, t-shirts, equipment rentals, etc. We are still finalizing sponsorships but even if sponsorships are down slightly, at least 90% of registration fees go directly to feed families.
I’m not available to run on Thanksgiving day. Are there other ways I can help the cause?
Yes, there are three ways you can help:
1) Help spread the word — Tell your friends, family and co-workers about the Give ‘n’ Gobble.
2) Become a Sponsor - Go to www.givengobble.com/sponsors.html for details
3) Donate an item to the auction - Contact info@givengobble.com to coordinate
Where can I donate food? Should I bring food to the run on Thanksgiving day?
If you are participating in the Give ‘n’ Gobble, please bring it with you on Thanksgiving Day. It’s a lot of fun to see those bags piling up! If you aren’t participating, you can drop off food at the Sherwood YMCA or ClubSport in Tualatin on Saturday, November 14th from 9 to 11 at our pre-registration and food drive event. You can drop off food to any Les Schwab store. (still being finalized — for sure Sherwood and Lake Oswego stores)
How much money did the event raise last year? How many families were you able to feed?
To date, this event has raised nearly $16,000 and over 7 tons of food donations. Last year, the Give ‘n’ Gobble raised enough to fund Helping Hands for the entire year and enabled them to give out fresh fruits and vegetables plus meat and dairy products to thousands of needy families.
How can I volunteer to help? What do volunteers do on run day?
This is a volunteer-run event and we would love to have more volunteers. Over the last two years, more than 70 volunteers have helped register participants, give out bib number, collect food and most importantly cheer on runners and walkers along the route to help ensure everyone stays safe and has fun! Go to http://www.givengobble.com/volunteers.html to register to be a volunteer and get a free t-shirt!
I usually run at the Oregon Zoo Turkey Trot on Thanksgiving. Why should I consider your run instead?
The Turkey Trot is a great event - raising thousands of dollars for the zoo and the ORCC running group. As a runner and a member of the zoo, I’d happily recommend this event. I think it is wonderful that we have healthy options in the Portland area and both events have become holiday traditions. I know there are enough active people in our area so that both events will be full every year.
Based on input from participants and sponsors, I think that the Give ‘n’ Gobble is growing by leaps and bounds because this event is about giving thanks by giving back to needy families. And this is the time of year when so many people are feeling grateful and wanting to help less fortunate families. It is heart-breaking to think about how prevalent a local problem hunger really is. The Give ‘n’ Gobble allows people to do something healthy while helping local families. It is also an ideal opportunity for families to show their children how easy it can be to give back. This event literally feeds thousands of people - which is so important in this economy. We get a lot of participants who run our event because they want to be a part of something that really makes a difference.
Where is the run located? Do I have to run or can I walk the 5K?
The run happens at the Sherwood High School Stadium.
16956 SW Meinecke Rd, Sherwood, OR 97140
It is only a 20 minute drive from Portland
Link to directions: Click Here.
Are you still accepting sponsors for this year’s event? How much does it cost and what are the benefits of sponsorship?
The annual Give ‘n’ Gobble is on its way. This walk, run and food drive will take place in Sherwood starting at 9:00 am on Thanksgiving Day! The event includes a 5K walk/run as well as a 10K run. The purpose of this event is to raise money for local food banks through sponsorship, registration fees, t-shirt sales and contributions. Additionally we will be collecting non-perishable food items. Participants who donate a bag of non-perishable food will receive a free t-shirt (shirts can also be purchased for $10). Proceeds and food donations will go to Helping Hands and the Oregon Food Bank.
According to the Oregon Food Bank, “every dollar you donate enables them to collect and distribute 6 pounds of food to fight hunger.” This event is quickly becoming a Thanksgiving tradition in the area, allowing people to come together with neighbors, friends and families to help fight hunger right here in our community. This is a great opportunity to help those less fortunate while increasing goodwill and market awareness of your business.
