Klager’s second annual “Turkey Trot” a gobbling success!
The “Wurster Park” group of walkers pose with their turkey headpieces, and some of the items they collected for the Community Resource Center.
They came on foot; they came in cars or school buses and walked the rest of the distance to school; and they even came in strollers. The second annual “Turkey Trot” for Walk to School Wednesday, held on Nov. 16, was a success both in number of participants and in the collection of goods for Manchester’s Community Resource Center Food Pantry.
Each week since school began, 50-60 students and adults have been meeting at Chi-Bro Park, Wurster Park, Manchester High School, and the Nellie Ackerson building for Walk to School Wednesdays. With mostly great weather this fall, the group has grown week to week, and organizer Mrs. Kathy O’Mara has kept the kids’ enthusiasm going by offering special walking prizes.
Every student who walks to school gets a small foot token to put on a chain on their coat zipper or backpack. The numbers of colorful feet keep growing and now several participants have received a second chain to hold their expanding collection. Most of the walkers are Klager Elementary pupils, but an increasing number of middle schoolers and even three high school students joined the ranks on Wednesday morning!
O’Mara estimates that more than 130 participants (from infants to adult) for last Wednesday’s activity were part of the huge parade of walkers who lined the streets of Manchester.
For the Turkey Trot, walkers were given an optional head piece to wear, and received medals when they reached the finish line at Klager. Older walkers also received a small prize to recognize their participation (most, believe it or not, did not want a turkey head band, but O’Mara reports that one high school student did take one to be a good sport!) She added that many of the Klager Kids wore their medals and headbands throughout the day too.
“They were very proud of their accomplishments,” O’Mara said.
Walkers were also requested to bring a donation to the CRC food pantry. Village Manager Jeff Wallace–a regular weekly walker–brought the generous gifts of at least six boxes of mostly personal care items like shampoo, deodorants, baby diapers, etc., along with canned vegetables, fruits, juices, packaged dry goods, baking supplies and more.
Laura Seyfried, CRC Director, said the food pantry really appreciates these items. “I know it really helps us and the folks who shop in the pantry,” she said.
“It was just a great event with all the students, teachers, parents, and community members making the event such a success,” O’Mara stated. “It was the biggest participation day since the program started.”
Walk to School Wednesdays will continue throughout the school year. Walkers meet at Wurster Park and Ackerson building at 7:30 a.m., and continue on to Chi-Bro Park where they meet up with more walkers at 7:45 to head on to Klager and the middle school. O’Mara also meets elementary-aged bus riders at the high school to accompany them to Klager so they can participate.
Come and join the fun!
Klager walkers prepared to cross the finish line as they completed their journey to school on Wednesday, Nov. 16.
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