MILFORD, CT – With the biggest fundraiser of the year for Beth-El Center starting in October, Jenifer Paradis, Beth-El executive director, said they will be focusing on The Soup Kitchen program.
“The Soup Kitchen is our biggest program right now,” she said. “We are serving double the meals we served six months ago every night. We used to serve about 45 meals every lunch, and now we serve 90. We also serve dinner, so we are at about 125 meals a day.”
The 12th Annual Milford 5K Trick or Trot Run/Walk, sponsored by Harlow, Adams & Freedman, P.C. Attorneys at Law and Sikorsky Credit Union, is set for Oct. 28 at Lisman Landing, Helwig St.
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Registration for the 5K Trick or Trot Run/Walk and Trick or Trot Kids Run is open. Click here to register.
“This event has something for everybody, whether you like to run, jog or walk,” Paradis said. “
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The event starts at 7:30 a.m. with the pre-registration bib, shirt and swag pickup at Lisman Landing, followed by the free kid’s dash (10 and under) at 8:30 a.m.
Other times at the event to keep in mind are 8:45 a.m., announcement, introduction of dignitaries; 9 a.m. start of the 5K run/walk with snack and fluids to follow; 9:45 a.m. awards distribution begins.
The Annual Milford 5K Trick or Trot is the biggest fundraiser for Beth-El Center.
“Everyone in our community who has been downtown and other places in the state can understand that unsheltered homelessness is growing,” Paradis said. “We have more people living outside because they cannot afford and cannot maintain a place to live independently. So that’s obviously our biggest and highest need and work at this time.”
Paradis said the Trick or Trot is a fun way to help Beth-El Center.
“This fundraiser helps us get through the increased needs in the fall and winter,” she said. “It will help us run the necessary program, like The Soup Kitchen, until April next year.”
In the past year, Paradis said homelessness has increased by 68 percent in the past year.
“There’s nothing invisible about that statistic,” she said. “We want folks to know there are solutions to this, and having appropriate services is a big one, and that is what we provide.”
Even though it is a run/walk, 5K, Paradis said costumes are encouraged, and those bringing their dogs to the 5K encouraged them to wear a costume as well.
“We award prizes to people and animals for best costume,” Paradis said. “We also have a kid’s fun run that any kid can participate in, and it is free.”
The course starts and ends at Lisman Landing, and Paradis said they hope the day will be a beautiful fall day.
“This year, we will have more food trucks and options available at Lisman Landing after the race ends, so folks will be able to make an afternoon out of it,” she said. “We are excited to see the race continue to get as much support as it does.”
“I get excited when people can support a good cause and have fun while doing it,” Paradis said. “It’s family-friendly, and our programming benefits so much by this, and we couldn’t do the work without it in the ways we know we need to and want to. We are incredibly grateful for the community that supports this event.
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