Garden Spot Village To Hold 5th GSV Marathon

NEW HOLLAND, Pa. — Garden Spot Village will hold a food drive during the fifth annual Garden Spot Village Marathon on Saturday, April 6, 2013. Donations benefit the Power Packs Project, designed to help families stretch their grocery money and to prepare low-cost meals for their families over the weekend.

“Runners realize how important nutrition can be to performing your best, and many of us participate in races which help support charities,” said Erica Baer, of Lancaster, who proposed a food drive in response to a request for suggestions on the Garden Spot Village Marathon facebook page. Last year, the Garden Spot Village Half Marathon was Baer’s first race ever, and she is registered to run it again this year.

“We use facebook to maintain an ongoing conversation with marathon participants, who have come from 40 different states, Puerto Rico, Canada, Germany, Honduras, Jamaica and Japan,” said Scott Miller, race director and chief marketing officer at Garden Spot Village.

“ELANCO Social Services Network, Cross Connection Ministries and Garden Spot Village partner with the Power Packs Project to provide a much-needed service in the ELANCO School District,” said Deborah Fast, director of volunteer services at Garden Spot Village. “Every Thursday afternoon, Power Pack Project participants have an opportunity to receive food and education on preparing healthy low-cost meals, nutrition, food budgeting, food safety and shopping strategies to ensure that children are well fed and ready to learn.”

A wooden barrel will be available for food donations. The requested items are dry cereal, such as Cheerios or Kix; graham crackers; canned chicken; sunflowerseeds; or applesauce. The collection receptacle will be next to the Expo at the pre-race pasta dinner on Friday, April 5, and next to the registration table on the day of the race.

“We ask that donors check expiration dates and avoid glass containers,” said Fast.

The Garden Spot Village Marathon is run on a USA Track & Field (USATF)-certified, Boston Marathon qualifier course that begins an ends on the Garden Spot Village campus at 433 S. Kinzer Ave. in New Holland. Proceeds from the marathon benefit the Garden Spot Village Benevolent Fund, which helps support residents who need financial assistance.

For more information, or to register for the race, visit www.gardenspotvillagemarathon.org or find us on facebook.

For information on sponsorship opportunities, contact Linda Dodge at LDodge@gardenspotvillage.org.