By Sharon Mager, BCM/D Correspondent
ELKRIDGE, Md.–Mid-Maryland Association is partnering with churches and community groups to sponsor a 5K race on May 7 to raise awareness and support for homelessness in Howard County. Proceeds will benefit the Route One Day Center, a refuge for the homeless community. The center provides a day shelter with meals, showers, clothing, outdoor survival gear and limited medical care. Community service referrals and assistance in obtaining services is also available.
The race registration fee is $25. In addition, volunteers will collect non-perishable food items, socks and jeans.
Registration begins at 8 a.m. at Rockburn Park in Elkridge. The course is in the shade in the woods offering scenic views and a low impact running surface.
Trophies will be awarded for the top three overall runners, male and female, in varying age groups.
For non-runners attending to support family and friends or to join in the festivities, there will be a Women’s Missionary Union “poverty simulator,” coordinated by Bethany Lane Church’s youth pastor, Dennis Allen. Participants will be assigned an identity and a “family” profile. Walking through the life-sized game board, “family” members role play, making decisions regarding life-changing situations that could determine the “family’s” future and becoming aware of the tough choices poor families struggle with daily.
“The poverty simulator is to show how easy it is to go from affluent family to homelessness,” Mid-Maryland Association office manager, Cheryl Clymer, explained.
In addition to Mid-Maryland Association, sponsors are: Route One Day Center, Bethany Lane Church, CrossLife Community Church; Council Chairman Calvin Ball of Howard County Council, District 2 and Dreyer’s Ice Cream.
For more information, or to register, see www.wecare.org.