Franklin Turkey Trot Helps Feed Local Families in Need - Nov 22

For the hundreds who will come out on Thanksgiving morning for the Franklin Turkey Trot 5K Family Fun Run, the motto is “Run now, gobble later!” When families gather together for their traditional feast after the event, there will be many more grateful for the bounty that results from the race. The registration fee of $20, or 20 nonperishable goods, goes directly to the Franklin Food Pantry, keeping donations local to help feed those in need.

The event begins and ends at the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints (LDS Church) at 91 Jordan Road in Franklin. The race, open to runners and walkers of all ages, attracts experienced runners as well as families who want to get out and exercise together before their traditional holiday get-together. A professional race organizer officially records timing, pace and rankings for each runner.

Registration is now open for this year’s event on November 22
(Photo courtesy of Gloria Meredith Photography)

“Thanksgiving is truly a time to be grateful for the many blessings we have,” said Erin Lynch, executive director for the Franklin Food Pantry. “But it is also an occasion to think of others who are struggling to put food on their tables. The Franklin Turkey Trot rallies our community to give back and help protect others from the threat of hunger. The nearly 1,000 individuals we serve are grateful to our community for coming out to support us.”

The November 22 race will begin at 8 a.m. Registration can be done online at franklinturkeytrot.org; at the LDS Church from 7 – 9 p.m. the Wednesday before the race; or the morning of the race from 7 – 8 a.m. Official race t-shirts can be purchased online for $10 for those who register by November 2.

The Pavao family walked last year to support the
Franklin Food Pantry in this festive holiday tradition.
(Photo courtesy of Gloria Meredith Photography.)

The registration fee of $20 is preferred as it allows the Pantry to “stretch our budget for leaner times,” said Lynch. “Our capacity to store the donated goods is extremely limited this time of year.” If participants prefer to donate goods, Lynch said they can check the list of current needs on the Pantry’s website at franklinfoodpantry.org.

Lynch is grateful for the hard work of Race Director Krystal Whitmore who volunteers her time and energy to coordinating this traditional event. “We are fortunate to have an incredibly hard-working group of volunteers, led by Krystal, who make this event possible,” said Lynch. “Krystal organizes church members, high school students, and her own family members to volunteer. The amount of work involved is amazing. We could not do this without them.”

For more information, call 508-520-9864 or email franklinturkeytrot@gmail.com.