Turkey Trotters take off from the starting line at Minden Park for the ninth annual Carson Valley Community Food Closet fundraiser on Thanksgiving morning.
Photo by Kurt Hildebrand.
Gardnerville resident Joleen Guddat donned her pilgrim costume to participate in the ninth annual 5K Fun Run on Thanksgiving morning.
She and twins Winston and Abraham were among more than 700 runners in this year’s Carson Valley Turkey Trot starting at Minden Park.
“It’s just fun to have these small-town traditions and we look forward to it every year,” Guddat said. “When we’re done, we go home and eat pie, which is pumpkin and cheesecake this year.”
An 18-year resident, Guddat is married to Douglas High graduate Eric Guddat, who grew up in the Valley.
She said she picked up the pilgrim costume for Halloween.
“I thought what’s fun and inoffensive for Halloween, and so I bought a pilgrim costume,” she said. “I’ve recycled it for Turkey Trot every single year.”
Carson Valley Community Food Closet Co-Director Cynthia Rodriguez said early estimates are that around 150 people signed up for the run on Thanksgiving morning, with 570 who pre-registered.
“Every year it gets bigger,” she said. “We only have two major fundraisers a year, the Turkey Trot and Share our Christmas Food Drive. The money that’s raised here helps us be able to able to buy food for the year, very important.”
Minden Park was rocking thanks to DJ Tay Tay, who was spinning the hits getting runners ready to hoof it around Minden.
“We wanted to have a festive morning,” Rodriguez said. “We have big plans for next year for the 10th Turkey Trot.”
Between the government shutdown and the holidays, it has been a busy season for the Food Closet.
“With the shut down happening when it did we were prepared because we do ramp up for the holidays, and it’s supposed to slow down in January and February,” she said. “We still do plan for increased visits with the changes to SNAP, we’re prepared and ready to help our community.”
The Channel 2 Share Your Christmas Drive-by Food Drive is 6 a.m. to 6 p.m. Dec. 12 at the Carson Valley Inn in Minden.
Dining and Cooking