Volunteers from wing organize 5K for Food

Middletown, Pa. -- Volunteers from the 193rd Special Operations Wing organized and hosted a 5K for Food June 16 at City Island in Harrisburg, Pa., raising more than $2,500 for the Central Pennsylvania Food Bank.

The 123 participants - nearly triple the number from last year - who ran or walked in the 5K for Food this year began the race at Riverview Pavilion on City Island. They took a scenic route around the island, across the Walnut Street Bridge and then finished back at the pavilion.

With a time of 20 minutes, 46 seconds, Capt. Aaron Teter, 193rd Special Operations Squadron, was the first male to finish the race. Heather Gochnauer was the first female to finish. Her time was 24 minutes, 9 seconds.

Winners in the overall master category (40 years old and up) were David Kelley, with a time of 21 minutes, 54 seconds; and Patti Schwab, with a time of 24 minutes, 49 seconds. Additional winners were named in a variety of age categories.

Ruthanne Herzing, special events and promotions coordinator for the Central Pa. Food Bank, said she was thankful for the great turnout and for the awareness and money that military members and their families helped raise in support of such a worthy cause.

The Central Pa. Food Bank distributes more than 22 million pounds of food and grocery products every year to more than 700 soup kitchens, shelters and food pantries in 27 central Pennsylvania counties. These agencies then directly feed thousands of hungry families throughout the Commonwealth. 
 
The primary sponsor for this year's 5K for Food was the 193rd SOW Association. Generous donations from other sponsors helped pay for things like refreshments, t-shirts, race timing and prizes for race and raffle ticket winners.

Maj. Keith Brannon, 193rd SOW safety officer and committee chairperson for the event, said the volunteers and sponsors played a huge part in helping make this year's race a complete success. He also noted that the goal is to continue to host this 5K annually.