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Community Corner

"Pay It Forward Day" March 21 in Southbury to Benefit Hoof-It-For-Haiti 5K Run/Walk

To help raise funds toward Sacred Heart Church’s Hoof It For Haiti-Southbury fourth annual 5K Run/Walk on April 26, two Southbury-area stores will host a Pay It Forward Day on Friday, March 21st. Newbury Place at 41 Oak Tree Road and Villarina’s Pasta & Fine Foods at 22 Poverty Road will donate a portion of their sales on March 21 to the Hoof It For Haiti fundraising ambitions. Sue Eskierski, owner of Villarina’s Pasta & More stated, “We simply ask that anyone interested in helping us raise funds on Friday, March 21st come to our stores and simply mention Hoof it for Haiti when making their purchase. A portion of the sale will go directly to the Hoof It For Haiti 5K Run and Walk.

Race director Christine Granja explained, “The mission of the 5K run and walk is to support the many programs and individual projects the church’s Haiti Ministry has established through their reciprocal ‘twin parish’ relationship with the people of Our Lady of Seven Sorrows parish in Grand Boulage, Haiti. Proceeds from our 2013 race helped purchase materials for new classroom benches for the school, provide hot lunches for all the students and pay teachers’ salaries throughout the 2012-2013 school year. In addition to the graciousness of Newbury Place and Villarina’s for their Pay It Forward Day, the race committee also welcomes sponsorships for their annual fundraiser.   

The Hoof It For Haiti 5K Run & Walk features a 3.1 mile USA Track & Field certified course through the streets of the Town of Southbury and along beautiful country roads with gentle, rolling hills. This is the same course as the very well attended Turkey Trot race held annually Thanksgiving morning. The 5K Run & Walk begins at 9:00 a.m., and free T-shirts will be distributed to runners who pre-register by April 1st.

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The popular Kids Hoof It Fun Run for children 12 years and younger will begin at 8:30 a.m. on April 26. Kids 6 and younger will run a 100 yard dash from the actual 5K Run starting line to the actual 5K finish line. Kids aged 7 to 12 and up will run one loop around the church which is .2 miles and equates to just under one lap around a standard track. All participating children will receive a bib number, finisher’s medal, and T-Shirt.

“We are very grateful to Newbury Place and Villarina’s Pasta & More for hosting this important Pay It Forward Day to help us raise money for our ongoing mission. In advance, we are also very grateful to all the customers who will shop in these two stores on March 21 and contribute to our ambitions.” Newbury Place features gift items, accessories, jewelry and bath and body products. Villarina’s Pasta & More features private label custom foods and Italian pastas.

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Fees for Hoof It For Haiti 5K Runners is $20 for those who pre-register online by midnight Tuesday, April 22nd or by U.S. Mail postmarked by Monday, April 21st. Race Day registrants will pay $25. Walkers’ fee is $15 in advance or on Race Day. The fee for children 12 and under participating in the Hoof It Fun Run is $10/child. Registration fees are waived with a minimum of $100 raised in pledges. Registration and pledge forms can be downloaded from the race’s website http://www.hoofitforhaiti.org/southbury/.

Anyone interested in sponsoring the event should email race director Christine Granja at racedirector@hoofitforhaiti.org

To learn more, or to register for Sacred Heart Church’s Hoof It For Haiti fundraiser 5K Run & Walk or Kids’ Hoof It Fun Run, visit http://www.hoofitforhaiti.org/southbury/.

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