Streamwood Knights Host Virtual 5K and Food Drive This May for Food Pantry

Seven years ago, Mary's Millennium Council #12801 Knights of Columbus, St. John the Evangelist Church, Streamwood IL, was looking for a creative way to increase their yearly assistance to the Hanover Township Food Pantry.

This year we are met with a new challenge to help while practicing safe distancing. We can use the community's assistance to meet their immediate needs.

Across the nation, Knights of Columbus councils have answered the call to "Leave No Neighbor Behind" during this Covid-19 pandemic crisis. With the cancellation of activities and masses, our normal monthly food drives have not occurred. The food pantry counts on those donations to supplement the purchasing that they do with funds from other sources.

We have two events during the month of May, to come to their rescue and help restock their pantry shelves. We have scheduled a Virtual 5k Run / Walk which can be completed from May 1 - June 20. Secondly, with the help of our Ladies Auxiliary, we are collecting food donations at the school hall and delivering them to the food pantry.

The Virtual 5k has several different registration options (with and without swag). Discounts are available for families, students, and seniors as well. Swag (T-shirts and participation ribbons) and medals for 5k participants that upload their results, will be presented later when we are able to reopen our facilities.

After registering you then RUN a 5K or WALK (5k or less) any time between now and June 20th noon. Choose your route: take to the treadmill, run in your neighborhood, or follow the suggested course map (our certified course). Feel free to run a loop beginning at any point and proceeding in either direction. Capture your results using your phone or manual entry.

We will be accepting food donations Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays from 11:00 AM - 1:00 PM now through May 15th. Donations can be dropped off at Kyle Hall, St. John the Evangelist School (next to main school entrance on Parkside Circle), 513 Parkside Cir, Streamwood, IL.

Current items needed include: Diapers - larger sizes, Canned goods (chicken, tuna, Spaghetti Os, chili, soup, etc.) Cereal, Peanut butter and jelly, Loaves of Sandwich Bread, Mustard, Ketchup, and Mayonnaise. Thank you in advance for your help.

For more information see our dedicated website (http://5k.kofc12801.org ), Facebook page (@KnightsChallenge5K) or email us at info@kofc12801.org.