The month of Elul begins September 4. In Jewish tradition, this is the time of year that we prepare for the High Holy Day season so we can make full atonement. As we look back over the year and consider how we could have done more to make the world a better place, our Louisville community has a tradition that presents us with an opportunity to do a significant mitzvah by helping feed the hungry.
That tradition is the annual Dare to Care Community Hunger Walk. This year’s walk will be Sunday, September 25, at 2 p.m. at E.P. “Tom” Sawyer State Park.
Each year, the Jewish community has a large delegation in the walk, and as has become a Jewish tradition, the Jewish Community Relations Council encourages you to join Team Jewish Louisville.
It’s easy to sign up. Just go to dare-to-care.org/events/hunger_walk and register. Entry fees are $25 for adults or $15 for those 18 and under. If you can’t walk yourself, please consider making a donation in honor of Team Jewish Louisville through Dare to Care.
“One in five children in our community struggles with food insecurity, and the $25 registration fee will provide 100 meals,” said JCRC Hunger Walk Chair Jessica Goldstein. And this year, half of the money raised by Team Jewish Louisville will go to the Jewish Family & Career Services Janet and Sonny Meyer Family Food Pantry Fund.
This year’s walk will cover the park’s one-mile fitness trail loop three times. “It is extremely accessible and beautiful,” said Jessica Goldstein, who is chairing the Jewish Louisville team for the Jewish Community Relations Council. It will be a comfortable route for the wheelchair-bound and anyone who finds other routes challenging. Parking will be in the main lot that serves the indoor tennis facility. There will be plenty of children’s activities and much more.
The Hunger Walk also features a Family Fun Fest from 12:30-3:30 p.m. There will be a 5K run that starts at 2 and a 5K walk that starts at 2:30.
The Hunger Walk presented by Aramark is a 5K Walk and Run benefiting Dare to Care Food Bank. Over 2,000 people are expected to participate, help put hunger on the run and make a public commitment that everyone will have access to the food they need to be healthy.
Participating in the Hunger Walk or donating to Dare to Care makes a real difference, and it’s an excellent family activity.
Start your preparation for the High Holidays by walking or running in the Hunger Walk, donating to Dare to Care, getting people to sponsor you for the walk and encouraging others to participate. Together, we can fight hunger in Louisville.