Have you ever been hungry? So hungry you can't focus? So hungry you cannot concentrate? So hungry it hurts and you have no way to do anything about it? That is what it is like when a child suffers from food insecurity. But you can help. Let me ask you something. Can you spare $10 to help feed a child?

This July 12th, I will lace up my running shoes once again for the 15K Utica Boilermaker Road Race, a race I’ve run nearly 40 times. But this year, every mile carries deeper meaning. I’m running for kids who know hunger the way I once did. I am running to raise money to feed children who otherwise might have to go to bed hungry on any given night the way I did growing up. It takes $5 to feed one child for a weekend. Will you help me feed two children for a weekend while school is out and school meals are not avialable?

Growing up, I lived in a federally subsidized housing project, and in a high crime area surrounded by constant uncertainty. Running was the one constant in my life. Some mornings I went to school distracted, tired, and ashamed, not because I didn’t want to learn, but because I didn’t know when or where my next meal was coming from. Hunger made focusing on school incredibly difficult, and it followed me everywhere.

No child should have to carry that weight.

That’s why I’m using my training for this 9.3‑mile race to raise $500 for Erin’s Angels of CNY, an organization that makes sure children have the food they need to grow, learn, and thrive. Erin’s Angels exists to assure families that when times are tough, they are not alone and that no child has to face hunger in silence.

When you give, you aren’t just supporting a race. You are helping a child concentrate in school. You are helping a family breathe a little easier. You are helping end the cycle I lived through.

Your generosity turns miles into meals and hard experiences into hope.

If my story resonates with you, I invite you to be part of this run without having to run a single step. Together, we can assure that no child grows up wondering when they’ll eat next.

Thank you for standing with me, and more importantly, for standing with kids.

Here's how you can help:

• Donate: Contribute whatever you can. No amount is too small!
• Spread the Word: Share my fundraising page with your friends, family, and social networks. Let’s spread awareness so we can raise more!

Thank you for standing by me in this effort. Your support means the world to me!

Jack

Director of Fund Development and Communications 

Erin's Angels of CNY