For the City Times
STEVENS POINT – Thanksgiving morning 2021 was a chilly affair – with temperatures in the mid-20’s and a formidable wind – but that didn’t stop over 700 people from participating in the 2021 Stevens Point Community Turkey Trot 5K Walk/Run and Food Drive. Participants and supporters contributed $1,911 in cash donations and 1,150 pounds of food for InterFaith Food Pantry and the Mobile Pantry, both serving Portage County residents.

“The team that coordinated this event – Annie Wetter, Suzanne Oehlke, Joe Kotlowski, Jeanna and Tommy Trzebiatowski, Kate Giblin and myself – want to extend a heartfelt Thank You to those that came to event, participated online, and made donations,” said Laura Zelenak, coordinator of the Turkey Trot. “We are always so grateful to our sponsors and participants; they make the event really special.”

The annual event offers a fun and simple way to be active while supporting local food pantries. Bypassing formalities of a typical ‘race’, the event is non-competitive and family-friendly with an entry ‘fee’ of a non-perishable food item or online food donation.

Community sponsors make the event possible and contribute appreciated extras like hot coffee, prizes for online participants, and music. The 2021 Turkey Trot was sponsored by Delta Dental, Mada Custom Apparel, Starbucks Coffee, TDS Telecom, and Mancheski, Slaton, Skibicki and Associates with First Weber Stevens Point. Many other local businesses donated prizes for participant drawings.

For more information about the 2021 Stevens Point Community Turkey Trot, including photos from this year’s event, visit https://stevenspointturkeytrot.org/ or @turkeytrotstevenspoint on Facebook.

The Stevens Point Community Turkey Trot is offered by Portage County Can, a local coalition that builds networks and resources to foster active living and healthy eating behaviors in Portage County.