Lindsay residents can go for a “jolly jog” this fall and help take a bite out of hunger in the Kawartha Lakes.
Kawartha Lakes Food Source (KLFS) is inviting community members to take part in its 15th annual fundraising walk/run on Saturday, November 16 to help put food on the shelves at its distribution centre, and, ultimately, on to residents’ tables.
KLFS is a not-for-profit distribution centre that supplies food and personal care items to member organizations that provide support to people in need. In a quest to fight food insecurity, KLFS operates from a centralized distribution centre, where it collects food from reclamation sources, buys food in bulk, sorts and stores food, promotes awareness of hunger and its impact, and co-ordinates fundraising. It provides food to member organizations on a monthly, fair share basis.
“We’re aiming to raise $10,000 from the Jolly Jog, which will directly support our KLFS programs,” Brittni Wells, KLFS volunteer relations coordinator, told kawarthaNOW.
“Since we don’t receive public funding, we rely heavily on the generosity of our community to sustain our efforts. The best possible outcome of this event would be not only to meet our fundraising goal, but also to create a fun and engaging experience for our participants,” Wells said.
“It’s a wonderful opportunity to bring people together, celebrate our community spirit, and share some holiday cheer while helping fight hunger in our community.”
KLFS invites community members to participate in the festive, family-friendly five-kilometre walk/run on a route around Lindsay. Participants can sign up as individuals or as a group with their friends, family members, or co-workers.
“The event is free, but we urge participants to donate upon sign-up and collect pledges in support of their run,” a media release noted.
“Donations and pledges are so important — they make up nearly the entire amount raised each year, and we’re hoping the 15th anniversary of this exciting fundraiser will be the best one yet.”
After participants finish their walk/run route, they can partake in an afternoon with games, a chili lunch, hot chocolate, and photos with Santa Claus. KLFS will award best-dressed prizes to the most festive individual, group, and pet at the event. There will be a special prize for the most funds raised which will be awarded after the event.
“Not only is the Jolly Jog a fun holiday kick-off, it’s also a great way to give back, as an individual or even as a local business,” Wells said in a statement. “We’re still accepting Jolly Jog event sponsors, which could be a great strategy to help your business meet its goals and build an even bigger presence in the community.”
To learn more about our sponsorship tiers and how to get involved, reach out to KLFS.
Meanwhile, donations of $20 and above are eligible to receive a charitable tax receipt.
Visit kawarthalakesfoodsource.com to learn more amd to register for the 15th annual Jolly Jog.
In other KLFS news, the organization recently wrapped up its door-to-door food drive. Collecting donations from the north side of Lindsay generated a total of 4,513 pounds of food. The south side of Lindsay donated 4,887 pounds.
“The success of our door-to-door food drive speaks volumes about the generosity and compassion of our community,” said Wells when asked about the community response to the drive.
“It shows that people are willing to come together to support their neighbours in need. We’re grateful for the overwhelming response, which reinforces our belief that when we work together, we can make a significant impact in the lives of those we serve.”
KLFS encompasses volunteers from across the City of Kawartha Lakes. The organization supports eight member food banks, six social service agencies, and 21 student breakfast programs.
