Women Ending Hunger

 Pirates, fairies, princesses and more waited in line to receive their information packets and complimentary trick-or-treat bags; cases of water and bags of oranges were being stacked high on the back benches; children were running and jumping about; energy and excitement filled the air, and it was not even 9a.m. yet!

 Women Ending Hunger, an auxiliary of the Marion-Polk Food Share, held its' first-ever 5K MONSTER DASH Fun Run/Walk on October 22nd at the River Front Park in Salem, to raise awareness of hunger relief efforts.

 Many people registered online. It was only a $15.00 donation. Others just showed up with canned food or monetary donations and joined the run.

  While the event was fun, the message is a serious one. Women Ending Hunger puts on several events and fundraisers every year in the efforts to end hunger. Over 6,500 families in Marion and Polk county receive a food box each month. The organization has a mission statement, Leading the fight to END hunger in Marion and Polk counties...because no one should be hungry. They want desperately to turn 5,200 families in need to 0 families in need.


 Kat Daniel is the Program Director for Women Ending Hunger. She has been with the non-profit organization for three years and said the run was a volunteer's idea. "Tawnya Russell came up with the idea. She is a runner. It seemed like it would be fun. With a turn out like this, and now that we know what we are doing, we will probably do it again."

 Over 150 men, women and children showed up for the event. Rita Conrad showed up to support the cause and was pleased with the turn out. Conrad thinks next year will be even better, "It's like a garden, the first year it's small, second year it grows a little, and the third year it explodes."

 Daniel's first inspiration to join the fight against hunger came when she was in high school. "I did a Freedom from Hunger hike in Denver. It was completely student run. We had over 10,000 people show up for the 30 mile hike. We raised over $75,000. Ever since then I have had this passion to end hunger."

 Daniel came to Salem and started looking for work and Marion/Polk Food Share hired her. She enjoys the work that she does and said that Women Ending Hunger is especially dear to her heart. She believes that women are the major nurturers and if we can lift up our women then we can lift everyone else.

 There was a 1K for children 12 and under held at 8:30am and the 5K was held at 9:00am for the adults. Everyone was encouraged to wear costumes and a vast number of the participants did dress-up.

 Annee Goodrich brought her four children, her younger kids, one dressed as Super Mario, one dressed as Toad, ran the 1K but her older two, ages 10 and 11 ran the 5K with the adults. Alice Brawley brought her 7 year old daughter, dressed as a cheerleader, to participate in the fun as well.

 The whole event was filled with smiling, happy faces. Who knew that raising awareness to end hunger could be so much fun? Nancy Hadley, a participant of the run and a MPFS staff member said, "I just think it is a fun thing to do, exercise for a good cause." Jennifer Halfman, another enthusiastic participant of the 5K run, dressed up as a bottle of mustard. She cleverly used a play on her last name saying, "I'm half-man, half mustard." It was a jovial sight seeing a bottle of mustard running down the street.

At A Glance:
Women Ending Hunger Awareness Event
5K Fun Run/Walk - A fun event planned as a fundraiser
Held at River Front Park in Salem Oregon at 9:00am, October 22nd.
Contact Kat Daniel at 503-581-3855 for more information on how to get involved
If you are in need visit Get Help