The 8th Annual Run 4 Shelter and Kids Crab Fun Run will be held on September 10, raising funds toward the operating expenses of Haven Ministries and its homeless shelters, Resource Center, food pantry and thrift store in Queen Anne’s County.
According to Krista Pettit, executive director of Haven Ministries, “This event is so important to our mission in helping hundreds of people find comfortable, safe places to sleep, access to clothing and nutritious food, and connections to others supportive services through our staff.”
The event expects to register well over 800 participants and will include a 2-mile walk, a 5 Kilometer run, a 10-kilometer run and half marathon. The Kids Crab Fun Run for children ages 11 and under is broken down into three races with distances based on age. Children receive a medal and goodie bag at the end. Throughout the day, there will also be a bounce house, face painting and other fun activities for children.
“It’s very comforting to know that 100 percent of the proceeds from Run 4 Shelter are going to help the homeless and less fortunate in Queen Anne’s County,” said Aaron Baxter, race director.
Over 150 volunteers participate in this annual event and this year there are more than 60 community and corporate sponsors, including Diamond Sponsors Chesapeake Helps, Catalina Pools, and Federal Resource. Platinum Sponsors include Shore Sign, Minuteman Press of Kent Island, American Legion Post 296, and Reedy Electric Services. Gold Sponsors include Department of Housing and Community Development, Construction Services and Supply, Inc., Mid Shore Martial Arts, MILTEC, and Hilton Garden Inn. Silver Sponsors include Kentmorr Restaurant and Crab House, Corsica Technologies, Rotary International, Moose Family Center, University of Maryland Shore Regional Health, Computer Island, Island Print Shop, Economy Remodeling, Chesapeake Hearing, aMAEzing RAYcers, Best Western, Holiday Inn Express, and VFW. Bronze Sponsors include St. Paul’s Episcopal Church, Carrion Electric, Love Point Deli, Queenstown Bank, Joslex Studios, Annapolis Prosthodontic Associates, RJB, Freestate and Son Insurance, The Digital Architects, Shore Update, and St. Christopher’s Church. Operational Partners include Chessie Photo, Hardees, Pepsi, Kent Island Volunteer Fire Department, United Communities Volunteer Fire Department, Queen Anne’s County Sheriff’s Department, UTZ, NOVA Timing Systems, Douglass Development Corporation, Concept Solutions, Chesapeake Piper, Spunk Wear, Ebb Tide Tent and Party Rentals, All American Awards, Queen Anne’s Amateur Radio Club, the Lions Club, The Narrows Restaurant, Parks Tire Auto and Service, Hudson Marine, Preston Ford, Harris Crab House, Dick’s Autohaus, and Kent Manor.
Run 4 Shelter and the Kids Crab Fun Run are held each year on the second Tuesday of September with more information available about all their activities at www.run4shelter.net.
Funding from the event is particularly important in allowing Haven Ministries to again open its cold, weather emergency shelter on December 1, at Kent Island Methodist Church, 2739 Cox Neck Road in Chester. Haven Ministries Shelter will operate seven days a week, 6 p.m. to 7:30 a.m. through mid-April 2017.
Haven Ministries Food Pantry is open the third Friday of each month, except in November, from 5:30-7pm at Safe Harbor Presbyterian Church in Stevensville. During each food distribution date, more than 7,000 pounds of food is distributed to needy families.
Haven Ministries’ Our Daily Thread Thrift Store, at 425 Thompson Creek Road in Stevensville (behind Cracker Barrel), is open Monday through Saturday 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., providing deeply discounted prices on clothing and household items with proceeds benefiting Haven Ministries.
A Resource Center at St. Paul’s Episcopal Church in Centreville, which is an expansion of services to all community members, will open November 15, 2016 during the week from 8:30am-4:30pm. The focus of the Resource Center is educational programs, job training, and case management services.
For more information about Haven Ministries, visit https://www.haven-ministries. org or call 410-739-4363.
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