Clinton Hunger Run takes off Saturday

Melba Milholland works to get ready for a food giveaway last week at the Choctaw Food Bank. Milholland said she has volunteered with the organization for a year, and she enjoys getting out of the house and helping others. The Choctaw Food Bank, at 201 Arkansas 330 E., helps approximately 400 families per week.
Melba Milholland works to get ready for a food giveaway last week at the Choctaw Food Bank. Milholland said she has volunteered with the organization for a year, and she enjoys getting out of the house and helping others. The Choctaw Food Bank, at 201 Arkansas 330 E., helps approximately 400 families per week.

CLINTON — Hunger in Van Buren County is a big enough problem that the area supports two main food banks, with the help of fundraisers such as Saturday’s 5K run/walk.

The third annual Clinton Hunger Run is scheduled for 9 a.m., with a shotgun start. The event will begin and end at the Van Buren County Courthouse in downtown Clinton.

“We’re pretty excited — we have a ton of sponsors this year,” said Meagin Warren, race director.

It is a chip-timed race, and all ages are welcome, Warren said. The overall top finishers and the top five finishers in every age group will receive an award medal at the finish line.

“We have a lot of kids that do it, too,” Warren said. “We have runners and walkers; it’s not just a run.”

Last year, the event raised $5,000, which was split between the two food banks — the Choctaw Food Bank and Van Buren County Foods for Life.

“It’s tremendous,” said Claude Ruiz, who, with his wife, Karin, operates the Choctaw Food Bank.

He said the food bank serves 400 people a week at its facility on Arkansas 330. “All you have to do is walk in, be from this county and say you’re needy; that’s all. There are no income guidelines. People with good jobs get in trouble, too — people with nice homes and good cars,” he said.

“Over 700,000 thousand pounds of food went through our food bank last year,” Ruiz said. “I do everything — I hand out milk, cheese, eggs. I pick up at Walmart three times a week. We get 5,000 to 6,000 pounds [of food] each week through Feeding America.

Ruiz said the Choctaw Food Bank also gives out United States Department of Agriculture food, for which participants have to qualify.

Van Buren County Foods for Life manager Scott Spencer said the proceeds from the run are much appreciated.

“Donations are way down,” Spencer said. “We have the most people coming in now; we’ve been lower on money.”

The food bank is on U.S. 65B in Clinton. An all-volunteer operation, it provides a five-day supply of food once a month to eligible families. Last year, the food bank served 2,475 families, said Jessica Crabtree, a member of the Clinton Hunger Run board.

Proceeds from the run provide much-needed money for operations, Spencer said.

“We’ll be able to pay our overhead — depending on how much we get. We need about $4,000 a month,” he said.

Warren said the Clinton Hunger Run board received a grant this year, which should boost proceeds.

“One thing we’re really excited about this year is a Modern Woodman of America grant, which will match [proceeds] up to $2,500. Our goal is to do $5,000, plus $2,500 from them,” she said.

Warren said she thinks the organization will meet its goal of $7,500 after the costs of holding the race are met, which includes paying for T-shirts.

“Our sponsors this year have been unbelievable,” she said.

Crabtree, who has assisted Warren with the race, said all the work is worth it.

“It is very rewarding to be a part of a fun event that brings our community together for such a great cause,” Crabtree said.

Warren said Clinton native, teacher and runner Whitteni Hale, who has since moved to Paragould, is the race/walk founder.

“She wanted to do something for the community as well. She started the Clinton Hunger Run board — it’s been the same [members] all three years,” Warren said. “She’s actually going to run the race this year.”

Warren is encouraged by early sign-up for the event. She said 180 participants had registered as of Tuesday.

“We only had 150 this time last year,” she said.

Individuals can register online at www.clinton

hungerrun.com or in person the day of the race, she said. Race-day registration will be at the Blagg Law Firm, 286 Court St.

Also, people may donate online, even if they don’t participate, she said.

“There’s enough need that we have two food banks, and they’re full-blown,” Warren said.

Senior writer Tammy Keith can be reached at (501) 327-0370 or tkeith@arkansasonline.com.

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