Community
FATHER JOE’S VILLAGES
Thanksgiving Day 5K
E
very Thanksgiving since
2002, thousands of
people come together
in Balboa Park to give
back to others with their family
and friends. This year will be no
different. On November 22nd,
2018, Father Joe’s Villages
will hold their 17th Annual
Thanksgiving Day 5K to raise
funds and awareness for their
programs.
Each year, Father Joe’s Villages provides more than one
million meals to people experiencing homelessness in San
Diego. They offer three daily meals to people living in their
Emergency Housing, Bridge Shelters and Transitional Housing
programs and daily lunch for community members in need
through the Franklin Antonio Public Lunch Program.
For some, the food they receive might be the only meal
they receive that day. This meal is especially important
because access to warm, nutritious food not only relieves
hunger, it can save lives. Studies have found that lack of
food is associated with greater odds of hospitalization,
higher utilization rates of ambulances and emergency
rooms and health problems. Access to even one meal
a day can drastically reduce the likelihood of these
consequences.
Father Joe’s Villages serves meals 365 days a year to
people of all ages, race, cultures, religions and ethnicities.
Every day, Father Joe’s Villages serves more than 18,000
pounds of food. Funds and support from the Thanksgiving
Day 5K make this outcome possible.
74 GBSAN.COM | OCTOBER 2018
The Thanksgiving Day 5K is also a fun event for the whole family. The post-
race festival features live music, a beer garden, games and the chance for
children to meet their favorite princesses and super heroes. The 5K offers a
Catholic mass before the race as well.
If you would like to get involved, Father Joe’s Villages invites you to join them.
Visit www.ThanksgivingRun.org to start a team or register as an individual.
Together we can help Father Joe’s Villages provide one million meals to our
neighbors in need.