Families helping families. That’s what’s driving the 5K/1-Mile Fun Run/Walk that starts at 8 a.m. Saturday, Sept. 13 at Our Lady of the Wayside Church. Proceeds benefit the St. Vincent de Paul Society and Outreach Ministry at three Arlington Heights churches, Our Lady of the Wayside, St. James and St. Edna’s — whose combined congregations number nearly 9,000 families.
In hosting the family event, the tri-parish effort aims to raise awareness — and needed funds — for people who are struggling to make ends meet right in the surrounding community.
“Very often, people in need in our community reach out first to their local churches for assistance,” says Mike Nolan. “At Our Lady of the Wayside and St. James we’ve established St. Vincent de Paul societies to help those who contact us, and at St. Edna’s it’s done through their own Outreach Program.
“Together we three parishes use the annual Friends of the Poor walk and run to not only raise funds for these programs,” he adds, “but also to let the wider community know the programs exist and that the churches are another avenue for help in times of need.”
Fr. Gilbert Mashurano poses with Wayside cross country runners who will be doing the race.
The race starts and finishes in the parking lot at Our Lady of the Wayside, located at 434 W. Park St. in Arlington Heights. A kids’ dash takes place at 7:45 a.m. before the race/walk starts at 8 a.m. While it is not a timed event, prizes will be awarded for the top male and female to finish — as well as biggest family to participate. Register for individuals and families can be found online.
The kid’s dash is free to all and prizes will be given to each child who participates. The fun run/walk is $25 and T-shirts are available to the first 120 registered.
Fr. Gilbert Mashurano is always on hand to cheer on the runners and walkers. He serves as Associate Pastor of Our Lady of the Wayside and formerly served at St. James.
“It’s about community building,” he says, “by bringing together neighboring parishes — and our neighbors whom are not Catholic — for the good of others.”
At St. James, its St. Vincent de Paul Society has helped hundreds of families in the area since 2006. Its volunteers work behind the scenes answering hotline calls daily, offering emergency resources for short-term financial and material help for parishioners and others living within the parish boundaries.
The Mongovens of Arlington Heights have won the award several times for largest family to compete.
Meanwhile further north, at St. Edna’s, the parish runs its own food pantry, which feeds anywhere from 250 to 350 people a month, volunteers say. The need is so great, they add, that the parish expanded the size of the food pantry in 2021, to nearly three times its size.
Kathy Pelletieri works in St. Edna’s Outreach Ministry. She says funds from the race will help with rent, utility payments and other expenses for struggling families, as well as shopping to fill the food pantry.
“The pantry is usually pretty empty at the end of a shift and although our parishioners are generous with their food donations, we still have to shop to supplement the pantry,” Pelletieri says.
Kids cross the finish line.
At Our Lady of the Wayside, St. Vincent de Paul members pick up messages left on voicemail and reach out to the client to determine the need. Requests vary, from one call a week to five or more, but the St. Vincent de Paul Society is a bridge to take people to the next step. Assistance can range from short term financial assistance, but often includes referrals to Catholic Charities, local township services and other resources.
Organizers say that by hosting the 5K/1-Mile Fun Run/Walk again at Our Lady of the Wayside, it helps its St. Vincent de Paul volunteers and parish families to share its resources with those in need, while living out their mission of prayer, service and celebration.
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