Who ‘da thunk? Kennedy’s Fresh Foods, a longtime supporter of the West River Health Services Foundation and one of the most active retail stores in our community, along with our giving area community, helped the WRHS Foundation raise funds for their 36th Annual “Fun Run & Walk” – thanks to the many community members who visited their store on North Main in Hettinger on Wednesday, June 12th (it truly is amazing how many people come into Kennedy’s each day).
Of course, the WRHS Foundation representatives were on hand close to the checkout counters, to help pre-register folk for their Fun Run & Walk, as well as offer $2 raffle tickets and $1 bucket draw tickets -- to raise funds to give back to area communities for healthy projects and activities. By 6 pm, $4,567 had been raised! It is truly unbelievable how giving our people are.
Where does the truckload sale fit into this? Kennedy’s offered to bring in a truckload of fresh fruits and vegetables and then forward $5 from each bag filled to the brim – to the WRHS Foundation’s “Fun Run & Walk.” Then, all the net funds from this Fun Run & Walk event will be paid to area communities for healthy projects and activities. It was a win-win-win-win -- for Kennedy’s, the WRHS Foundation, our customers, and our area communities!
From 10 am to 6 pm, 136 customers filled their brown paper bags of fruit and vegetables for only $25! Then, Kennedy paid forward $680 ($5 x 136) to the WRHS Foundation – and eventually, to the area communities. In addition, many customers who decided not to do the bag sale, still pre-registered or purchased tickets. Kennedy’s and their loyal following, seem to come through time and time again. Thank you, Kyle, Mike, and the crew. We appreciate you.
There was also a special drawing held on the day, whereby if customers gave in $10 increments for either the raffle and/or bucket draw tickets, they’d receive a ticket to be placed into a drawing for five terrific prizes (give $20 for raffle/bucket draw tickets, customers received 2 tickets into a drawing; $30, 3 tickets, etc.). The drawing was held following this event at 6:30 pm. The following was drawn to receive prizes: $100 Kennedy’s Gift Card – Riney & Judy Stevahn; $25 KB Jewelers Gift Certificate – LaNae Kristy; $25 KB Jewelers Gift Certificate – Pennie Glines; $25 Hettinger Chamber of Commerce Bucks – Katie Roseland; and $25 Hettinger Chamber of Commerce Bucks – Connie Sims. Thanks again Kennedy’s, KB Jewelers, and Hettinger Chamber for supporting our efforts to inspire our community members to “pay it forward.”
The breakdown of the total $4,567 raised on the day included: $916 from 458 raffle tickets sold; $521 from 521 bucket draw tickets sold; $300 from 15 pre-registrations for the July 4th“Fun Run & Walk;” $680 from Kennedy’s via their 136 customers who participated with the bag sale; and $2,150 in straight gifts to the WRHS Foundation, for their Physician Recruitment Endowment Fund ($2,000), Fun Run & Walk Fund ($100) and West River Ambulance Fund ($50)! Wow! Thank you area community members. We sure are grateful.
You can still register for the WRHS Foundation “Fun Run & Walk” online at wrhs.com through June 27th. Just go to the website and click on the “Fun Run & Walk” billboard. In addition, you can still purchase raffle and bucket draw tickets through July 1stat KB Jewelers, BJ’s Paint & Body, and from any of the WRHS Fun Run Committee Members (Molly Wolf, Jill Sailer, Cindy Ham, Carmin Erickson, Doris Hoke, Jennifer Sanchez, Todd Skaarvold and Ted Uecker). Of course, you will also be able to register and purchase raffle and bucket draw tickets the morning of race day, July 4th.
Please call Ted Uecker at 701-567-3666 if you have any questions about the Fun Run & Walk event. So far, through June 17th, we pre-registered 114 runners and walkers! We sure hope these class reunion folk will consider coming down for a walk or run around scenic Mirror Lake. The Fun Run & Walk summary of events on July 4 includes: Registration at 6:30 am at The Granary by Mirror Lake Park; Prayer and National Anthem at 7:20 am; the 1K Youth Race through Mirror Lake Park is slated for 7:30 pm; followed by the Adult 3K Run and the Adult 3K Walk around scenic Mirror Lake. Prizes for numerous age groups, plus the raffle and bucket drawings will follow once the last walkers cross the finish line. Come join us at our 36thAnnual “Fun Run & Walk!” TOGETHER we can raise funds to pay forward to our area communities for healthy projects and activities. Everyone is welcome. We’re Going For More in ’24! Onward! Ted Uecker, FDO