Turkey Trot race to benefit food bank set for Nov. 25

The Whitefish Turkey Trot returns as an in-person event this year on Thanksgiving morning.

This is the 12th year Competitive Timing is hosting the race, which raises donations for the North Valley Food Bank. This year’s race will begin at the food bank on Thursday, Nov. 25.

“The Whitefish Turkey Trot was first held in 2010 as a way to encourage exercise and give back to the community by raising funds and food donations for North Valley Food Bank,” says Jessie Pappenfus from Competitive Timing, which organizes the run each year.

In 2019, almost 700 community members joined the 5K race. Runners and walkers will take off from the food bank building at 251 Flathead Avenue with a rolling start from 9-9:10 a.m. to allow for social distancing. Packet pickup is available from 7:45 a.m. to 8:45 a.m. on race day at the food bank.

The Whitefish Turkey Trot depends on volunteers to help the event run smoothly. About 15 volunteers are needed to help with packet pickup, course marshaling, and more. Register for the race or to volunteer at www.whitefishturkeytrot.com. Registration is $10 and the price goes up the day of the event.

A portion of the proceeds and all donations made on the sign-up page go to North Valley Food Bank. Additionally, organizers encourage race participants to make a food donation on the day of the race. To ensure all neighbors have a full plate this holiday season, the food bank needs hams, butter, crescent rolls, fresh potatoes and yams, olive oil, stuffing, gravy mix, canned corn, cornbread mix, pie filling, boxed pie crust, oats, flour, sugar, canned yams, cinnamon, nutmeg, brown sugar, salt pepper, dehydrated potatoes and other holiday favorites.

Competitive Timing is a Montana-based race timing company founded in 2010 and supports more than 300 events each year in Montana and across the country.

More information about the food bank can be found at northvalleyfoodbank.org.

For questions about the race or volunteering, contact jessie@competitivetiming.com.