SIOUX FALLS, S.D. (KELO) — An event that started with two men on a holiday run through downtown Sioux Falls and $20 donations to The Banquet is celebrating 20 years this Thanksgiving.
Hundreds of runners braved the cold for a cause this morning, participating in the 20th annual Fun Run for The Banquet. It’s a day Executive Director Tamera Jerke-Liesinger looks forward to every November.
“Just seeing the smiles on people’s faces, seeing the eagerness to get up early on Thanksgiving morning and come out and do something good for their community before they enjoy their meal and family and friends,” The Banquet Executive Director Tamera Jerke-Liesinger said.
The 1-mile, 5K, or 10K run or walk has become a Thanksgiving tradition among many families.
“I see families that when I started at The Banquet 17 years ago their kids were little bitties and now they’re teenagers, so yeah it’s a tradition for so many people,” Jerke-Liesinger said.
“So, for this last year I’ve had a personal goal of doing a race every month in a different Jack Black costume, this is Be Kind Rewind,” Sioux Falls resident Jake Iversen said.
Sioux Falls resident Jake Iversen was among the runners sporting a costume.
“This was just kind of thrown together, thank God for Savers and all the random things around the house you can just put together for a costume. A couple of hours wrapping all the tinfoil and the duct tape around, so lots of fun,” Iversen said.
Beyond the fun, he also believes in the mission of The Banquet.
“This is a service that is doing a lot of good and helping a lot of people,” Iversen said.
The goal is to raise $50,000 between donations and sponsorships and every penny counts as The Banquet is serving more meals than ever before, about 180,000 this year alone.
“25,000 of those meals that we serve every year are served to children 12 and younger, and especially out at that west side location so many families are coming just to help supplement their income so they can keep their roof over their head and still provide their family with a nutritious meal,” Jerke-Liesinger said.
Thanks in large part to this holiday run.
