Thousands pause Thanksgiving cooking to take part in Turkey Trots benefitting The Y
THANKSGIVING TRADITION AS THE TURKEY ITSELF. EVERY YEAR, THE WIVES CENTRAL MARYLAND HOSTS A SERIES OF TURKEY TROTS, AND THE EVENT DOES MORE THAN JUST HELP US BURN CALORIES. IT’S CRUCIAL TO MAKING THE WYE ACCESSIBLE TO SO MANY. AND JOINING US NOW, THE Y OF CENTRAL MARYLAND, SARAH KISSINGER. THANKS FOR COMING BY. GOOD TO SEE YOU. GLAD TO BE HERE. THANK YOU FOR HAVING ME. WE WERE TALKING OFF CAMERA. I’M SHOCKED THE NUMBER OF PEOPLE DO THIS EVERY YEAR. 16,000 RUNNERS. 16,000 PEOPLE ACROSS SIX COUNTIES ALL OVER CENTRAL MARYLAND. AND YOU’RE GOOD WITH THEM ALL. TOWSON. YOU GOT? WAVERLY ARNOLD. I MEAN, YOU’RE SPREAD OUT ACROSS. WE ARE. YEP. ALL THE WAY FROM WESTMINSTER, UP IN CARROLL COUNTY, DOWN THROUGH ARNOLD IN ANNE ARUNDEL. THERE WILL BE FOLKS WHO ARE WATCHING THIS AND THEY WANT TO TAKE PART. WHAT WHAT WHAT ARE THEY IN STORE FOR WHEN IT COMES TO THE TURKEY TROT AT THE Y. OH MY GOSH, JUST SO MUCH FUN. IT IS SUCH A FANTASTIC MORNING. IT IS FULL OF COMMUNITY SPIRIT. IT IS FULL OF JUST MASSIVE NUMBERS OF VOLUNTEERS THAT HELP US MAKE IT HAPPEN. FOLKS WHO ARE BRINGING FOOD TO DONATE TO OUR PANTRIES. YOU CAN BRING A STROLLER, A WALKER, A WHEELCHAIR, BRING YOUR DOG. ACTUALLY, I WAS SHOWING I KNOW YOU HAVE A PROBLEM AND IT’S A COOL PROP THAT YOU HAVE LITTLE DOG BANDANAS THAT MATCH OUR T SHIRTS. SO T SHIRTS, DOGS GET BANDANAS. EXACTLY. SO YES, BRING THE WHOLE CREW AND COME OUT ON THANKSGIVING MORNING. WHAT PEOPLE MAY NOT UNDERSTAND. YOU THINK OF THE Y. YOU THINK YOU GO TO WORK OUT, YOU GO TO SWIM AND THAT’S IT. YOU RATTLED OFF THE PLACES WHERE MONEY FROM THIS TURKEY TROT GO, AND IT’S REALLY ABOUT SUPPORTING FAMILIES. ABSOLUTELY. WITHOUT QUESTION. SO, YOU KNOW, THE Y REALLY ISN’T JUST A GYM. IT REALLY IS A COMMUNITY CENTER. SO ALL OF THE DOLLARS THAT COME THROUGH REGISTRATION, THAT COME THROUGH DONATIONS, GIFTS AND SPONSORSHIPS TO THIS EVENT IN PARTICULAR GO TO SUPPORT WHAT WE CALL OUR OPEN DOORS FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE FUND, AND THAT GOES DIRECTLY BACK INTO COMMUNITIES AGAIN THROUGH ALL SIX OF THOSE COUNTIES IN ALL OF OUR SERVICE REGIONS, TO FAMILIES WHO RELY ON THE SERVICES AND THE PROGRAMS AT THE Y. THAT’S VERY BASIC NEEDS LIKE FOOD, LIKE CHILD CARE, LIKE PRESCHOOL, SUMMER CAMP, SWIM LESSONS TO KEEP KIDS SAFE. YOU KNOW, WE’RE ALSO THINKING ABOUT OUR SENIORS IN ISOLATION, RIGHT? WE HAVE A TON OF SENIOR PROGRAMING AT THE Y, AND ALL OF THIS GOES RIGHT BACK INTO THOSE FOLKS WHO NEED OUR HELP. AND WHAT I THOUGHT WAS COOL IS THAT YOU’RE SAYING SOME OF THE MONEY WHEN YOU’RE PART OF THIS, THIS PROGRAM, 75% OF THEIR MEMBERSHIP IS PAID FOR. SO NOW, ABSOLUTELY, YOU GET TO NOT ONLY ENJOY THE PANTRY, BUT YOU’RE ALSO ENJOYING THE, WELL, HEALTH AND WELL-BEING THAT COMES WITH THE Y 100%. YES. ANYBODY WHO APPLIES UP TO 75% OF YOUR MEMBERSHIP AT THE Y, WHICH IS INCLUSIVE OF ALL OF THESE EXCELLENT PROGRAMS THAT HELP YOU ACCESS THE HEALTH AND WELL-BEING YOU’RE LOOKING FOR IN YOUR LIFE, ARE AVAILABLE THROUGH OPEN DOORS. TELL ME ABOUT NEED RIGHT NOW. I THINK WE ALL TALK ABOUT, ESPECIALLY AS WE GET CLOSE TO THE HOLIDAYS. WHETHER IT’S PEOPLE COMING TO GET MEALS, WE HAVE PEOPLE WITH ENERGY AND UTILITY ASSISTANCE. HAVE YOU GUYS NOTICED A GREATER NEED LATELY? A SIGNIFICANTLY INCREASED NEED? YES. WE HAVE FOUR FOOD PANTRIES. THEY’RE CALLED Y FRESH MARTS ACROSS OUR SERVICE REGION, AND ALL OF THEM HAVE SEEN OVER A 10% INCREASE IN FOLKS ARRIVING AND LOOKING FOR SUPPORT SERVICES. SO WE ALSO, IN CONJUNCTION WITH THE TURKEY TROT, DO A FOOD DRIVE EVERY YEAR. SO ANYBODY WHO, WHETHER YOU’RE PARTICIPATING IN THE TURKEY TROT OR NOT, YOU CAN STOP BY YOUR CLOSEST Y FAMILY CENTER AND DROP OFF FOOD. WE’RE ALSO ACCEPTING TOILETRIES, YOU KNOW, THINGS TO MAKE LIVING A LITTLE BIT EASIER RIGHT NOW FOR THOSE FOLKS WHO MIGHT NEED IT. TELL ME ABOUT THE Y THESE DAYS. YOU LET ME IN ON A SECRET OVER AT TOWSON. I THINK FAMILIES WILL LOVE TO HEAR. ARE WE ABLE TO TALK ABOUT THE POOL? YEAH, ABSOLUTELY. SO, YOU KNOW, THE Y’S ALWAYS TRYING TO BE FLEXIBLE, RESPONSIVE, UNDERSTANDING WHAT FAMILIES ARE LOOKING FOR. AND WE’RE REALLY EXCITED THAT AT THE ARAKAWA Y IN TOWSON, WE ARE BUILDING A NEW SPLASH PAD FOR OUR FAMILIES. FOR FAMILIES. THAT’S A GAME CHANGER. ABSOLUTELY. SHOULD BE OPEN BY NEXT SUMMER. OKAY, LET’S GO BACK TO THE TROT THOUGH. SO WE SHOULD TALK ABOUT REGISTRATION. TALK ABOUT VOLUNTEERS AS WELL. SO WE’LL START WITH VOLUNTEERS. IF SOMEONE WANTS TO HELP OUT, EVEN IF IT’S PACKET PICKUP, THERE’S ROOM FOR THEM. ABSOLUTELY. THERE’S STILL PLENTY OF TIME TO REGISTER TO VOLUNTEER. WE NEED HELP ON TUESDAY AND WEDNESDAY BEFORE THE RACE. WE ALSO NEED HELP ON RACE MORNING. THE RACE ITSELF BEGINS AT 830, SO WE’LL NEED HELP WITH SETUP. WE NEED HELP WITH TEAR DOWN. WE ALSO IN OUR FOOD PANTRIES RIGHT FROM NOW UNTIL THE END OF THE YEAR. AND YOU KNOW, BEYOND WILL NEED ASSISTANCE WITH FOOD PANTRY HELP. YOU CAN FIND ALL OF THAT ON THE Y TURKEY TROT SITE OR AT OUR WEBSITE. THE ORG. THERE’S PLENTY OF TIME STILL TO REGISTER AS WELL TO RUN IN ANY OF THE RACES ACROSS CENTRAL MARYLAND. THERE’S ALSO A VIRTUAL OPTION. SO YES, IT’S ALL REALLY HELPFULLY MANAGED BY OUR PARTNERS AT CHARM CITY RUN, AND THEY WILL HELP US WITH OUR TIMING, ETC. SO EVEN IF YOU’RE VIRTUAL, YOU STILL GET TO PARTICIPATE AND HAVE A LOT OF FUN. YOU REALLY CAN REGISTER. ACTUALLY, UP UNTIL RACE MORNING, I WAS GOING TO SAY FOR THE PERSON WHO WAKES UP AT 820 AND DECIDES IN TEN MINUTES I WANT TO GO RUN. YES, PLEASE COME HOP UP ON YOU, GO ONLINE OR JUST GO TO YOUR YOUR NEIGHBORHOOD Y AND REGISTER EITHER ONE. OKAY. EITHER ONE. YEAH. WE’LL BE READY FOR
Thousands pause Thanksgiving cooking to take part in Turkey Trots benefitting The Y
Thousands of runners paused their Thanksgiving cooking to lace up their sneakers for a holiday tradition that keeps runners coming back year after year.11 TV Hill video above: Importance of Turkey Trots to the communityWhile this Thanksgiving is cold, it didn’t keep the runners inside. Instead, they converged Thursday morning in Towson dressed in costumes with their families and their dogs for the 34th annual Turkey Trot charity 5K.”We are here to support The Y, and it’s always a good time. We get dressed up and have a lot of fun,” said David Wach, a runner.Jovan Custis, the executive director of The Y in Towson, said 17,000 people registered for the family tradition across Central Maryland Y locations in Arnold, Baltimore City, Bel Air, Ellicott City, Towson and Westminster.All of the money raised through registration, donations, gifts and sponsorships support The Y Open Doors Savings financial assistance fund.”That helps us to alleviate cost for individuals that cannot afford the full membership, whether that’s a senior or a child,” Custis told WBAL-TV 11 News. “It gives them access to quality swim lessons, personal training, access to all of the free programs in our center.”Custis told WBAL-TV 11 News that The Y is seeing a greater need and always accepts donations.”(We hold) canned food drives, nonperishables, we are also accepting coats, hats and socks, because we know if you need food, most likely, you need other necessities as well, and we’re here to fill in the gap for our community members,” Custis told WBAL-TV 11 News.While the Turkey Trot is so much fun with costumes and creativity, for others, it’s a reminder of home.”Just the community around it, like, our neighborhood used to be over there before we moved, so it’s like coming back home,” said Asad Zaheer, a runner.”We both are from out of town originally, so some years, we travel, but it’s nice to be home, have our families to just be able to do things locally,” said Monique Swain, a runner.”I think it’s just having a good time with my friend here, so I’m excited for that,” said Mia Shelton, a runner.The Y’s goal this year is to raise $1 million across Maryland.
Thousands of runners paused their Thanksgiving cooking to lace up their sneakers for a holiday tradition that keeps runners coming back year after year.
11 TV Hill video above: Importance of Turkey Trots to the community
While this Thanksgiving is cold, it didn’t keep the runners inside. Instead, they converged Thursday morning in Towson dressed in costumes with their families and their dogs for the 34th annual Turkey Trot charity 5K.
“We are here to support The Y, and it’s always a good time. We get dressed up and have a lot of fun,” said David Wach, a runner.
Jovan Custis, the executive director of The Y in Towson, said 17,000 people registered for the family tradition across Central Maryland Y locations in Arnold, Baltimore City, Bel Air, Ellicott City, Towson and Westminster.
All of the money raised through registration, donations, gifts and sponsorships support The Y Open Doors Savings financial assistance fund.
“That helps us to alleviate cost for individuals that cannot afford the full membership, whether that’s a senior or a child,” Custis told WBAL-TV 11 News. “It gives them access to quality swim lessons, personal training, access to all of the free programs in our center.”
Custis told WBAL-TV 11 News that The Y is seeing a greater need and always accepts donations.
“(We hold) canned food drives, nonperishables, we are also accepting coats, hats and socks, because we know if you need food, most likely, you need other necessities as well, and we’re here to fill in the gap for our community members,” Custis told WBAL-TV 11 News.
While the Turkey Trot is so much fun with costumes and creativity, for others, it’s a reminder of home.
“Just the community around it, like, our neighborhood used to be over there before we moved, so it’s like coming back home,” said Asad Zaheer, a runner.
“We both are from out of town originally, so some years, we travel, but it’s nice to be home, have our families to just be able to do things locally,” said Monique Swain, a runner.
“I think it’s just having a good time with my friend here, so I’m excited for that,” said Mia Shelton, a runner.
The Y’s goal this year is to raise $1 million across Maryland.