Flapjack5K raises funds for food pantries

Bloomingdale's St. Isidore Catholic Church will sponsor a 5K run to support the Neighborhood Food Pantries organization at 7:30 a.m. Saturday, Aug. 8, on the grounds of Stratford Square Mall.

This year's run, called the Flapjack5K, is a USATF-certified event. Medals will be awarded to the top three male and female finishers in six age groups, as well as top three overall finishers.

All participants will receive a race shirt, goody bag and breakfast following the race.

Proceeds from the run will go toward Neighborhood Food Pantries, a group that provides basic food items for those in northwest DuPage County who could otherwise not afford them, as well as monetary assistance for housing, utilities, prescription medications and other medical-related needs and transportation, said race co-director Sally Meyers.

"Last year alone, Neighborhood Food Pantries served 3,455 families who visited our pantry sites more than 21,000 times, serving adults 50,691 times, kids 39,509 times and seniors 8,407 times," Meyers said. "Fundraisers like the Flapjack5K and donations throughout the year are vital to our ongoing ability to accomplish our mission."

Participants can register online at www.flapjack5k.org until 4 p.m. Friday, Aug. 7. Entry fees are $40 for adult runners/walkers when registering in advance; $50 on race day. Race-day registration begins at 6 a.m. at the St. Isidore Parish Ministry Center, 427 W. Army Trail Road in Bloomingdale, just south of Stratford Square Mall. Schedules and additional information are available at www.flapjack5k.org site.

Start and finish lines are on Knollwood Drive. The course heads north to Stratford Drive and follows a clockwise loop on the outermost lane. Two laps are required before exiting again in Knollwood Drive to meet the USATF-certified distance of 3.1 miles.

Anyone not wanting to walk or run but who would like to get involved as a volunteer is asked to contact the race director at 5kracetograce@gmail.com or Sally Meyers at (630) 452-4725. Race-day volunteers receive an event T-shirt and free breakfast.