Run for Food, annual fundraiser for The Banquet, announces new location this year

​It’s been going on for 13 years.

Raised more than $120,000.

And every year it burns at least one pumpkin pie of calories. Maybe.

The “Run for Food,” an annual no-frills charity run on Thanksgiving Day, is one of the largest fundraisers for The Banquet, a feeding ministry in Sioux Falls. Every year, it brings together runners and walkers to do good works before celebrating the holiday.

This year, the run moves from the downtown location to the W.H. Lyon Fairgrounds, the Banquet’s westside location in the Nordstrom Johnson Building, says Rob Sevold, who founded the event with fellow runner Jeff Schmitt.

The new venue will allow for more parking and also highlights the Banquet’s work and services throughout Sioux Falls, Sevold says.

“The Run for Food is the perfect complement to the spirit of Thanksgiving,” Sevold says. “It supports a wonderful feeding ministry and is an awesome way to begin the holiday.”

Runners and walkers can choose from three routes: 1, 3 and 6 miles. A $10 donation per person is suggested, and all proceeds go directly to The Banquet, which serves nearly 200,000 meals each year to families living in poverty in Sioux Falls. Helping meet that need – and recognizing how fortunate he is – is part of what drives Sevold.

“I am humbled by the guests of The Banquet each time I go there,” he says. “There’s also a tremendous appreciation for the staff and what they do day in and day out. And then our runners, walkers and cyclists light a fire inside me – this is a gathering of people who want to be part of the solution.”

For me, it’s one of the highlights of my holiday season.

Like many of you, I know I’m probably going to go for a run that day anyway. And I know that in my life, even when things are hard, they’re still pretty good – and that isn’t the case for a lot of people in our community. People give back in a lot of ways – this is just one of mine.

Join us this Thanksgiving to Run for Food, support a feeding ministry in Sioux Falls and get to know your fellow runners.

What: Run for Food

Where: W.H. Lyon Fairgrounds (please enter from Madison Street on the north side of the fairgrounds)

When: 8 a.m. on Thursday, Nov. 22
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Who: Open to runners, walkers, kids, families, friends. There’s something for everyone!

​​Jacqueline Palfy is a longtime runner, reader and writer, marathoner, mom and board member of the nonprofit Sioux Falls Area Running Club. Her contributions to the 605 Running Co. blog will appear every other Tuesday. You can follow her on Twitter @runnerJPK or reach her at jpalfyklemond@gmail.com. Story ideas are encouraged.

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