By Ashley M. Casey
Associate Editor
The Baldwinsville Kiwanis Club’s biggest fundraiser begins its second 50 years this week. The 51st Annual Turkey Day Race takes place Thursday, Nov. 28 (Thanksgiving), at Baker High School.
Each year, more than 2,000 runners flock to the high school to raise money for causes that benefit local youth such as the Baldwinsville Community Scholarship Foundation, Paige’s Butterfly Run and Baker High School’s “Keep the Ball Rolling” party.
“We’re one of the [first] that started a ‘Turkey Day’ race,” Bill Lappin, board member and past president of Kiwanis, told the Messenger in 2016. “It almost has become a tradition in B’ville for families.”
A relatively new addition to that tradition is the food drive. In 2018, St. Mary’s and St. Augustine’s partnered with Kiwanis to collect shelf-stable food items for the Samaritan Center, the Baldwinsville Community Food Pantry and the VFW food bank. Last year’s drive collected $42,950 worth of food. This year, St. Elizabeth Ann Seton is joining the effort.
For a list of what to donate or where you can drop off donations before the race, visit baldwinsvillekiwanis.com/food-drive.
New this year, you can also donate money via text message. Text TURKEY2019 to 555888 and click on the link to complete your donation.
Donations go toward helping young people in Baldwinsville and beyond. In 2019, Kiwanis donated six scholarships worth $10,000 each to graduating Baker seniors. The club is also able to sponsor about a dozen children to attend Kamp Kiwanis, located just outside of Rome, New York.
To register for the race, visit baldwinsvillekiwanis.com/turkey-race. The online registration fee is $25 for the 5K and $30 for the 10K. Online registration closes at noon Sunday, Nov. 24.
The race schedule is as follows:
• 7:45 a.m.: Day-of race registration ($35 for 5K, $40 for 10K)
• 8:30 a.m.: Half-mile kids’ fun run (free, no registration required)
• 9 a.m.: 5K and 10K
The first 2,000 finishers will receive a long-sleeved race T-shirt and a medal.
