60°
CROTON-ON-HUDSON, N.Y. The Harry Chapin Run Against Hunger will take place in the Village of Croton late Sunday morning and in the early afternoon. The event provided the seed money for the Cortlandt Emergency Food Bank, over 30 years ago, and raised $26,000 for area food banks last year.
While much of the fundraising still takes place through traditional methods, like direct mailers, organizers have turned to the internet and Facebook for additional fundraising capabilities.
Traditional methods would only get us a fraction of what were able to get using online methods. You reach a much wider potential network of donors," said race director Jud Ramaker. This is only our second year with online fundraising, and it certainly changed it. It is a very effective means, and its just another tool. Its friends asking friends, which is a lot bigger network than we could ever do with direct mail itself."
The race also continues to use time tested methods of fundraising. At least one Croton citizen, Sam Colombo, has raised over $117,000 over the last 18 years of the race. Colombo can frequently be seen around Croton, often arriving to the Black Cow to sit outside with his small table in the chilly predawn hours to begin his fundraising efforts.
"Sammys been raising serious serious money for us for years," said Ramaker. "Year in and year out hes our biggest fundraiser."
The weather outlook for this year's race appears positive. The Weather Channel Online has predicted a partly cloudy day with a high of 66 degrees, as of Friday evening.
Last year nearly 1,000 people attended the race, which includes a 5K walk, a one mile Fun Run, and a 10K race. The race honors the late singer-song writer, Harry Chapin, who died in an automobile accident on the Long Island Expressway, in 1981, at 31 years old.
The first race, the 5K walk, begins at 10:30 a.m. near Croton-Harmon High School. The Fun Run and the 10K race begin at noon and 12:30 p.m. respectively.
In 2010, some of the organizations supported by the Run Against Hunger included the Croton Caring Committee, Caring for the Homeless of Peekskill, the Hillside Food Outreach in Pleasantville, Food Bank for Westchester and WhyHunger. WhyHunger was co-founded by Chapin. Overseas, the race supports the Carolyn Belshe Orphanage in Cambine, Mozambique, and Mountains of Hope for Haiti.
Croton Police advise taking extra time to reach your destination during the late morning and early afternoon hours in the Village of Croton. There will be intermittent closures of the following streets from 10:30 a.m. until 3 p.m.
Old Post Road South from Maple Street to Truesdale Drive, Sunset Drive at Old Post Road South, Morningside Drive at Old Post Road South, Cedar Lane, Nordica Drive, Truesdale Drive, Cleveland Drive from Five Corners to Gerstein Street, Jacoby Street, Wood Road at Route 129 and Batton Road at Route 129.
Click here to follow Daily Voice Cortlandt and receive free news updates.
