Runners, families step out to support Shelter, Inc.

Last year, officials with Shelter, Inc. in Arlington Heights held their first-ever 5K run and family walk, taking the agency's message right to its target market: children and families.

This year, the event took place on Saturday at Busse Woods in Elk Grove Village, where both runners and walkers followed a naturally scenic course, over the bridge across Higgins Road and onto the forest preserve's wooded trails.

Because of its strong turnout last year, the Chicago Area Runners' Association (CARA) sanctioned the course, boosting the overall turnout to more than 200 participants.

Among the runners, Dave Schaefers, 33, of Schaumburg was the first to finish, with a time of 18:34, while Jennifer Harrison of West Dundee was the first female to come in, with a time of 19:59.

Families on hand enjoyed the scenic trek into the forest preserve, as well as the many activities for children located at the finish, including face painting, crafts and kite flying -- all provided by officials with TeacherCare, an educational in-home childcare service.

"It was quite a happening," said Carol Brown, Shelter spokeswoman. "We drew lots of people, including serious runners as well as families."

They also drew potentially new supporters to Shelter, who may have been learning for the first time about its work going on behind the scenes for abused and neglected children, in the Northwest suburbs.

The nonprofit child welfare agency provides emergency and temporary housing for children in need, aiming to keep them right in their own communities.

Shelter officials work through their network of foster families to care for infants and children, while placing adolescents and teens in group homes located in Arlington Heights, Palatine and Schaumburg.

The agency also runs the Healthy Families initiative, to help first-time parents build a healthy and secure environment for their children. The program includes home visits, and offers referrals for child care, education and health care.