Service groups cook up fun run for Test Kitchen

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BY CHUCK VANDENBERG

FORT MADISON - Three city service clubs are planning a spring 5K run with proceeds to benefit the Elliott Test Kitchen in Fort Madison.

Shirley Hoenig, who's helping spearhead the event for the Fort Madison Kiwanis Club said Kiwanis looked at the idea last year, but volunteer numbers were a bit down.

"We came up with the idea over a year ago because the Burlington Kiwanis group was having great success with their Color Run," Hoenig said. We thought we could do it ourselves but the volunteer numbers weren't there so this year we decided to reach out to the Fort Madison Lions Club and Fort Madison Rotary and they were open to the idea."

Now a committee of about 10 people, including members of both Fort Madison Kiwanis and Fort Madison Lions, are making plans for the event. Fort Madison Rotary is planning on sending manpower to the event on April 7th beginning at the Baxter Sports Complex.

The run will take place at 8 p.m. that Saturday and will begin and end at the sports complex and will run along Phase 1 and 2 of the Fort Madison. P.O.R.T. trail.

Hoenig said the committee is hoping for 100 to 150 runners for the inaugural 5K run called Glo Crazy for Education. Registration information will be made will be available in the coming weeks and anyone wishing to be a sponsor of the event is encouraged to contact Hoenig at 319-470-2564 or Chuck Vandenberg at 319-371-1670.

Kiwanis used to make an annual contribution but in reviewing the 2017-18 budget cuts had to made.

"We started working on the budget this year for the 2017-18 year and we had to cut some funding and the Elliott Test Kitchen was one of those items so we thought this would be a good way to continue funding that effort."

She said she hopes that it becomes an annual event with funding continuing to go to Elliott Test Kitchen.

"I think it needs to be an annual event with funding going to the Test Kitchen for as long as it's here to help our students," Hoenig said.

The Test Kitchen was formed by former restaurateur Kumar Wickramasingha as a joint effort to help students with educational assistance along the lines of homework and test preparation such as ACT and SATs. In addition, groups of students cook meals for the other students during learning times as well as during community events held at the Test Kitchen location.

 

5K run, Baxter Sports Complex, Fort Madison Kiwanis, Fort Madison Lions, Fort Madison Rotary, Glo Crazy for Education, Pen City Current

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