Westerville Shows Up: Hunger Heroes 5K
On Saturday, August 29, 236 adults and 15 kids gathered at the Westerville Sports Complex for the Hunger Heroes 5K, kicking off a month dedicated to fighting food insecurity right here in Westerville. Under beautiful late-summer skies, neighbors of every pace, from seasoned racers to families walking together, laced up for one shared reason: to act against hunger in our community.
The morning opened with two moments that set the tone for everything ahead. Westerville Mayor Grimes joined us to deliver a proclamation officially marking September as Hunger Action Month in Westerville, a reminder that this fight belongs to the whole city, not just WARM. Then Lead Pastor Katy Wheat Borhauer offered a prayer over the runners before the starting gun, grounding the morning in the same spirit of service that carries WARM's work all year long.
Congratulations to our top finishers: Gage Turpin, 17, took first place overall, and Tamara Kranz crossed the line as our top female finisher. But honestly, every single runner and walker who showed up that morning is a Hunger Hero in our book.
Our Event Supporters
Races like this one don't happen without a community willing to invest in it first. We're deeply grateful to our sponsors, who made the morning possible:
Hunger Hero Champion St. Paul the Apostle Catholic Church · Church of the Messiah · Grace Evangelical Lutheran Church
Pantry Protector Bailey Cavalieri · Mount Carmel St. Ann's
Meal Maker Salem Media Group · Metz, Bailey & McLoughlin · Crossroads Church · The Hoover Kitchen & Bar · OhioHealth · Mid-City Electric · Geotechnical Consultants Inc.
Good Neighbor Stroll Medallion Estates Magazine · Uptown Westerville Inc. · BMI Federal Credit Union · Cohatch · Whit's · Nichols & Company CPAs · The Harmony Agency · Kroger
To every sponsor, runner, walker, volunteer, and family who came out on August 29: thank you. You set the tone for the whole month ahead.
The Race Was Just the Start
Hunger Action Month runs through September, and there are still easy, tangible ways to keep that same energy going.
Bring a food donation. WARM's Choice Market is stocking up for our season of greatest need. Drop off nonperishable items at 150 Heatherdown Drive, Monday through Friday, 9am–4pm. Every item on the shelf is a neighbor's family fed.
Host a food or fund drive. Rally your office, your church, or your friends together this September. We'll give you everything you need to run a drive that acts against hunger in Westerville, we just need you to show up and invite your circle in.
The Hunger Heroes 5K proved something simple: when this community shows up together, it shows up big. Let's keep that momentum going all September long.