Thanksgiving Day Tickle Trot 5K
Providing food to those who are hungry and the food insecure is the core mission of the Sandy Community Action Center. Helping people meet their basic needs can provide enough relief that individuals and families then have some resources to put toward things like working or looking for work, childcare, and education. The quality of people’s lives can steadily improve when our basic needs are met.
The Sandy Community Action Center invites you to its annual family fun 5K run/walk on Thanksgiving morning at 8am starting at the Abundant Life Church on 16633 Champion Way in Sandy. Sign up is easy at https://runsignup.com/Race/OR/Sandy/SandyCommunityActionCenterAnnualTickleTrot5K. New this year, we will be introducing a paid registration option for those that would like a finishers medal. Experienced runners have a start and finish line and families with children of all ages can go at their own pace. Costumes are encouraged so come dressed for the occasion. The Tickle Trot 5K winds along the wooded Tickle Creek and its nearby neighborhood. The event grows more each year as word gets out with participants returning once they’ve found how rewarding and fun the experience is.
The SCAC is a well-stocked food pantry operating alongside a vibrant thrift store. This partnership serves the community of Sandy and surrounding areas with food, personal hygiene items, clothing, shoes, and household goods as well as volunteer opportunities. I recently spoke to a long time SCAC volunteer, Star, about her role of checking people in on Wednesdays and Fridays when the pantry is open. Star appreciates being a first contact person for people coming to the Center for food, especially those clients who may be new to being homeless because she can help them think through items they may need. Something as simple as a can opener or a ready-made sandwich can make a big difference and so can you make a difference in someone’s life by volunteering at the Center or supporting the Tickle Trot.
The Tickle Trot donations and sponsorships provide Thanksgiving meal boxes to 200 families. The SCAC is proud to have Grocery Outlet as a partner each year facilitating the ordering and purchasing of turkeys, pies, and produce needed for the Thanksgiving boxes. Several local businesses also partner by collecting food for the Thanksgiving boxes, including Johnson RV, Sandy Cinema, and Embold Credit Union. We invite businesses who want to partner with a blue bin collection to reach out if they also would like to collect food. We look forward to welcoming new Sandy businesses to partner or become a sponsor in our Tickle Trot 5K. Individuals who would like to help can collect Thanksgiving food items or funds from neighbors, friends, hiking groups, book clubs.
Funds raised during the Tickle Trot also support operation of the SCAC all year long so we greatly appreciate all our sponsors as well as the donations people give. Your dollars matter to us and are directly turned into food for people who are experiencing hunger and food insecurity. SCAC longtime volunteer Star also said, “I enjoy it. I like being out and talking to people. The people at the Center help a lot of people.” She only wishes the Center had more space to do what they do so well.