Beneficiaries
The following entities are the primary beneficiaries of The Tallahassee Turkey Trot
The Boys & Girls Club of the Big Bend
The Boys & Girls Clubs of the Big Bend offers after-school and summer programs for more than 1000 kids at four Club locations in Gadsden and Leon Counties. After-school programs run four to five hours per day, Monday through Friday. Some Clubs also offer full-day summer programs. More than your average after-school facility, the Boys & Girls Clubs emphasize the value of education and strive to instill in members the desire to succeed academically. Through five core programming areas and specialized initiatives, the Clubs also help members develop favorable character traits, identify their talents and interests, and provide an outlet for positive and rewarding self-expression. Visit Boys & Girls Club of the Big Bend at http://bgcbb.org/ .
The Kearney Center
The Kearney Center thanks everyone associated with the Turkey Trot for once again letting us partner with you in this great Tallahassee tradition. The Turkey Trot races have supported The Shelter, and now the Kearney Center, for over 25 years. Your contributions have helped us continue to better meet our mission of serving the homeless.
Our work with those who are homeless is rewarded when we see people’s lives transformed before our eyes daily. Folks who come to us desperate for food and shelter are fed and protected. In addition, our case management and supportive services have helped many find their own homes.
The Kearney Center:
- Provides 700 nutritious meals every day
- Provides overnight safety for an average of 375 people nightly
- Meets the basic health needs of 80 people every night
For over 25 years, our community has reflected a caring heart toward homeless people, many of whom are like many of us: regular folks who are a paycheck or a calamity away from needing extra help. While there are some homeless people whose situations seem chronic, most can be effectively encouraged and assisted back toward living safer, more stable and more comfortable lives.
In January 2018, the CESC (Connecting Everyone with Second Chances) Dental Office opened in the Kearney Center. The office provides no-cost dental care not only to Kearney Center residents but anyone in need. Find more information at www.cesctlh.org/dental
The Kearney Center continues to provide critical services to the people it serves and you help in making all this happen. Visit the Kearney Center at www.kearneycenter.org
We are so grateful for your continued support that helps us meet the demands of our community. Thank you, runners and supporters, for making us a part of your Thanksgiving Day tradition!
The Refuge House
For over 30 years, Refuge House has been the voice of hope for victims of domestic and sexual violence in our community. Women, children and men escaping violent homes, or dealing with the trauma of rape, find comprehensive Refuge House services available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. The Refuge House is a safe haven with emergency shelters, encouragement and support through its hotline and counseling services, as well as resources for rebuilding lives with dignity, peace, and justice. Children who have been abused are welcomed to their day care and counseling programs with encouragement and love. Every year, over 500 women and children, friends and neighbors, are sheltered from abuse, in the emergency shelters provided by the Refuge House. Over 2,500 hotline callers get support and safety planning from hotline staff every year, and over 1,500 victims and their children receive counseling and advocacy support in the community. As one Refuge House client once said, “You can get your life and your freedom back.” Refuge House seeks to save lives, build hope and end violence! Visit the Refuge House at refugehouse.com.
Gulf Winds Track Club
Gulf Winds Track Club (GWTC) runs this town – well you know what I mean. This great organization is one of the best most active volunteer groups in the land. The club organizes and supports running at all levels in Tallahassee, including 17 races and a summer track series. GWTC encourages and supports runners, race walkers and triathletes of all levels of ability and training, whether they participate for competition, fitness or personal and social enjoyment. The newsletters, social meetings and lecture series inform members of local and regional events and foster the exchange of information about training and other aspects of running, racing and fitness. Among our most valued members are those who promote fitness through service to the Club, primarily on a volunteer basis. Visit Gulf Winds Track Club at gulfwinds.org.
Kent Vann Partners in Excellence Awards
The Kent Vann Partners in Excellence Awards provides financial awards to elementary schools and middle schools who bring the most food for give away and have the most students running in one of the races. Schools can receive awards of up to $300 and a total of $1500 is available for this program. Find a lot more detail on this in the Awards section of the webpage.