5 Reasons to Rise and Shine for "Call to ACTCion 5K Run/1.5 Mile Walk for Hunger Awareness"

Five Reasons to Rise and Shine for Second Annual “Call to ACTCion 5K Run/1.5 Mile Walk for Hunger Awareness” fundraiser for the Assistance Center of Towson Churches, 8 a.m., Saturday, June 1 at Goucher College:

1. Exercise on the flat, scenic route of Goucher’s campus

2. Get out of the house and breathe fresh air

3. Mingle with like-minded people

4. Have fun

5. Help feed the hungry and disenfranchised

I was there when the event made its debut last year to photograph the Assistance Center of Towson Churches (ACTC) fundraiser for an organization close to my heart. I photographed its ribbon cutting 27 years ago and have been a volunteer ever since. I have observed firsthand how ACTC and many volunteers like me have helped and listened to people walking, limping  or wheeling through its doors who were: without food for their children; unemployed; cold or suffering from the heat; victims of fire; without the crutch they needed to walk; needing a dentist for an abscessed tooth; penniless; mentally ill; living in cars with their family; abused; without warm clothes; vets waiting for benefits; elderly without electricity; between jobs; grandmothers on Social Security taking care of their grandchildren; diabetics without meds; homeless teens struggling to make it through college. Sometimes I would leave in tears because we couldn’t do enough. But many times I would leave happy that we lifted spirits and made a difference by providing the emergency services that we could.

You see – proceeds from the Run/Race allow ACTC to purchase food to supplement donations by 48 member churches and from food drives. They also help provide funds for eviction and electricity turnoff prevention; prescriptions; tokens for getting to job interviews and medical appointments; temporary shelter for emergency cases; bagged lunches; interim financial aid for veterans. ACTC also provides clothing, fresh produce, medical care by a GBMC nurse practitioner, quick access to benefits – plus a listening ear and caring by 60 volunteers.

That’s why I will be at the Run/Walk early on Saturday, June 1, with my camera, to cheer and photograph the participants of all ages, some in their 90s. I hope to see you there for all the reasons I’ve mentioned.

Register online at http://calltoactcion.eventbrite. For more information, visit http://actconline.info/Events.html.

Ruth