EASTHAMPTON — The name of the city’s annual Thanksgiving 5K called “Give ‘Em the Bird,” says it all, having raised thousands of dollars each holiday season to provide turkeys and meals to those in need.
The event’s 11th anniversary on Thursday will be no different according to organizer Pat Brough, who said this year is projected to be a record breaker.
“It’s just kind of been a labor of love,” he said about the race since it started. “We just love to give back to the community the best that we can.”
Each Thanksgiving morning since the race’s inaugural year in 2015, before families spend time feasting and watching football, many have made it a tradition to participate in the 5K together. Family members as far as Florida and California visiting for the holiday gather at Millside Park before setting off down the Manhan Rail Trail towards Northampton.
“We get people from all over the country that come to do this race,” Brough said.
Once reaching Clapp Street, runners take a right turn onto Fort Hill Road looping to the rail trail, and racing back to the starting point at the park. For those that are not able to run the 5K, a 2K walk option is offered as part of the event.
The race starts at 8:30 a.m. each year, though registration is full this year, hitting the 700 participant limit in October, ranging from racers as young as 10-years-old, to the oldest participant this year, at age 94.
Registration fills quickly every year, typically well before Nov. 1. Brough said this shows how much the race, which started with 300 runners, has increased in popularity.
All funds raised go to the Easthampton Community Center (ECC), and last year, it raised about $35,000, having accumulated more than $250,000 in total that helps supply turkeys and other holiday meals.
Brough organizes the race each year with ECC Executive Director Robin Bialecki and Bill Lynch. City resident Eric Poulin, originally pitched the idea to Brough after the city had been hit by a funding cut, and he helped bring the idea to life.
“We started it (the race) to raise money to buy turkeys, which is why we call it ‘Give ‘Em the Bird,’” Bialecki said.
Bialecki said since the first year, the funds raised have been monumental to help supply meals.
The first year, Brough said the goal was to raise $5,000. That mark was blown out of the water with roughly $10,000. Since then, the 5K has raised an additional $5,000 each year until leveling out at approximately $35,000 the past several years.
Even in 2020 during the COVID-19 pandemic, the group adjusted to keep the donations coming. While they were not allowed to host the race, they still accepted sponsorships, donations and people could still purchase bibs and shirts. The event raised about $20,000 that year, without people running.
The event this year is sponsored by 63 different families and organizations, having nearly tripled from the first year with only 22 sponsors — 18 of which have sponsored every year.
Brough said while it is important to help raise funds following the freeze to Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits, registration was full even before it happened. He said the funding raised from the race will help support those still recovering from the freeze.
“It’s just showing that the race over the years continues to grow and people want to support the community center the best they can,” Brough said about this year’s success.
Brough said that funds from each year are stored for the next year’s holiday season, so money from last year’s race is being used to purchase meals this year.
“I am amazed at the amount of people who want to give back and it warms my heart,” he said.