Hartford Marathon Foundation Aims to Donate 12,000 lbs of Food in 2016
Race organization facilitates food, clothing and supply donations across CT
February 25, 2016, Glastonbury, CT ÛÒ
The nonprofit Hartford Marathon Foundation (HMF) is asking runners to
help collect 12,000 pounds of non-perishable foods at HMF race events
this year. Introduced in 2015, the ÛÏHMF CanÛ initiative encourages
runners to bring donations on race day to be provided to food banks
within the communities that race events are held.
More than 10,000 pounds of food was donated in 2015 through HMF Can donations. Last year, 900 pounds was gathered at the Harvard Pilgrim Middletown Half Marathon to
benefit the Amazing Grace Food Pantry, reportedly their biggest ever
one-time donation. HMF is hoping to beat that record at the April 3,
2016, Middletown event.
The
2016 HMF Can drive will be kicked off on Friday, February 26 from
3:00-6:00 pm, and Saturday, February 27 from 9:00 am-noon during the HMF
Apparel Warehouse Sale at 41 Sequin Drive in Glastonbury. Everyone
that brings 3+ pounds of non-perishable food to donate will receive a
free HMF race shirt (while supplies last).
ÛÏRunners
appreciate when communities open up their roads for races and HMF Can
provides a simple way to give back, just by adding a few cans and boxes
of food to their race day rituals,Û said Beth Shluger, Executive
Director and CEO of Hartford Marathon Foundation. ÛÏWeÛªre
committed to producing races that show off the best of these
communities; itÛªs important to us that the only thing weÛªll leave behind
after an event is a positive impact.Û
In
addition to hosting HMF Can drives, HMF also donates food leftover from
race events to local groups. The Eversource Hartford Marathon, HMFÛªs
largest event with approximately 14,000 participants in 2015, produced a
total donation of 4,129 pounds, from apples and bagels to loaves of
bread and bananas. Recipients included Open Hearth, South Park Inn and
Food Share.
The
Foundation is committed to sustainability efforts and proactively seeks
opportunities to donate, reuse or repurpose as part of post-event
operations. Approximately 460 pounds in compost materials and 6,360
pounds of recycling were produced at the Eversource Hartford
Marathon. Clothing donations from the event totaled 1,700
pounds. Donate Life CT supported the effort, with volunteers stuffing
35 bags of discarded sweatshirts, hats, gloves and other layers shed by
race participants along the race course. Donations went to local
shelters and charities. Another 440 pounds of clothing was donated from
the HMF Warehouse to Goodwill to be distributed to 14 store locations
across Connecticut.
For more information on the HMF Can initiative or to register for 2016 events, please visit www.hartfordmarathon.com.
About the Hartford Marathon Foundation
The
Hartford Marathon Foundation, Inc. is a nonprofit organization founded
in 1994 to create and manage fitness events that inspire people to be
healthy and fit. Located in Glastonbury, Connecticut, the Hartford
Marathon Foundation organizes approximately 42 annual athletic races,
including the Eversource Hartford Marathon and Half Marathon, and
training programs for young runners. For more information, visit www.HartfordMarathon.com and follow on Facebook at HMF Events, Twitter at @runHMF and Instagram at HMF_Events.