What began as only an dream for one Belwood couple has now turned into a an annual 5K Run/Walk that involves the entire community.
Sheila Goodman and her husband, Greg, enjoyed running and had participated in several 5K runs.
"God laid the idea on our hearts, and gave us the confidence that we could figure it out," says Sheila of their idea to start the Belwood Run for Hunger 5K Run/Walk. The couple's plan was to hold a fun run and use the proceeds to support "The Lord Provides Soup Kitchen" ministry which had been founded by Alicia Garren in the Belwood Community Center.
"With a whole lot of faith and anxiety we muddled our way through that first year, making up forms for sponsors and participants on the fly and spreading the word through friends, our church family and social media," says Sheila.
That first year's run was a success, and now the annual event is the soup kitchen's biggest fundraiser.
"The soup kitchen is now in its fourth year and runs entirely on donations and volunteers," says Sheila. The soup kitchen ministry includes five churches: Carpenters Grove Baptist, Norman's Grove Baptist, Knob Creek United Methodist, St. Peter's United Methodist and Kadesh United Methodist.
"We started serving one Saturday a month, and after a couple years and fundraisers we were able to start serving two Saturdays a month," says Sheila. "We receive donations and food at costs from some of the local businesses. If it were not for our community volunteers and some of our smaller businesses we couldn't survive."
The soup kitchen provides eat-in or delivered meals as well as grocery deliveries to those who need them.
This year's Belwood Run for Hunger 5K Run/Walk is scheduled for Saturday, Oct. 7 at 8 a.m. and starts at the Belwood Community Center (old Belwood School) in Belwood. Awards will be given to the top three male and female finishers in five-year increment age groups. The early-registration entry fee is $10 for those 12 and younger and $15 for adults. Race-day registration is $20 and will be open until 7:45 a.m. All participants are asked to bring one canned food item for the soup kitchen.
For more information about the run, contact Sheila or Greg Goodman by calling 704-678-6029 or 704-678-6328. Those interested in participating in the 5K should visit racesonline.com or send an email
to stglpn@gmail.com.

By April Hoyle Shauf

Special to Community First Media