In its first year, the Golden Harvest 5K run took place on November 20th in the wide open air of the University of Incarnate Word campus. Whether it was a seasoned runner or a beginner, the event was enjoyed by those who participated in the brisk morning run and by those who cheered them on. The event was coordinated and sponsored by the University of Incarnate Word (UIW). All of the event’s proceeds benefited the Society of St. Vincent de Paul of San Antonio. Simply by registering to run, participants provided funds to help some of the community’s most vulnerable residents. But the student organizations and school alumni didn’t stop there. They also held a competitive food drive. The Liberal Arts School won the competition with their school alone donating over 4000 lbs. of food.

According to Heather Fortune, President of the UIW Human Performance and Sports Management Organization, the 5K event was organized by student volunteers with the support of club advisors and professors. She noted, “The University of Incarnate Word is all about service and it was exciting to see how much of an impact we were making for St. Vincent de Paul.” On the day of the event, student volunteers showed up at 4:30 a.m. ready to set up for the  event which featured over 500 runners competing in 3 separate groups ranging from serious competitors to families with grandparents and baby strollers in tow.

Valerie Finley, Executive Director for St. Vincent de Paul, noted that the event has multiple benefits. Not only does it help to provide food sufficiency to those in need, including the homeless individuals St. Vincent de Paul feeds at the Haven for Hope campus, it also serves as a vehicle to support participant’s health and their desire to give back to the community.
The proceeds of the event will fund several St. Vincent de Paul programs, including the Family and Community Assistance Programs which prevent homelessness and help struggling families to thrive. One recent recipient of the program, Marisol, is a single mother of three who went through the double hardship of a divorce and losing her job. While searching for a new job, she depleted her savings and started driving for Uber. Asking for help was hard because she had always been able to provide for her children. Family and Community Assistance said “By the time she came to us, she had fallen behind on her rent. She qualified for assistance with the back rent through one of our programs and we also referred her to the Workforce Solutions Alamo Career Center. A humble woman, she was extremely relieved and grateful for our support and for our referral which enabled her to secure an even better paying job as a medical receptionist.”
 
Through the combined efforts of dedicated volunteers, staff, and sponsors like the University of Incarnate Word, individuals in crisis get the resources and support they need to regain their dignity and move forward towards a stable and productive place in our community.