Locals trot to make sure everyone has a Thanksgiving dinner

Personal Best Charity has partnered once again with Patriot Place to hold its 23rd annual Turkey Trot on Sunday, Nov. 11th at the shopping, dining and entertainment center on Route 1 in Foxborough. This is the major fundraising event for the Turkey Brigade held in November, a community service event that assembles baskets of food to feed families in need of a Thanksgiving meal.

“This year we will surpass the $1 million dollar fundraising mark to help feed families at Thanksgiving,” enthused Personal Best Charity President Chris Rappold. “We are humbled by the many families, students, friends and businesses who help to bring this event to fruition. Without their support, we would not be able to feed the 3,200 families we set for our goal and so many would do without.”

Initiated in 1995, the Turkey Brigade has grown from feeding 69 families in 1995 to surpassing feeding 33,000 families over its 22-year history, which is approximately more than 138,000 people. As part of the organization’s ongoing commitment to teaching character education, students from Personal Best Karate take part in raising money for the charity by collecting pledges and participating in the Turkey Trot. The students are represented from each of the Personal Best Karate Schools, located in Norton, Foxborough, Easton, Norwood, Medfield and Raynham.

At the Turkey Trot this year will be three starts: the Ranger Run, for children up to age 8, which is a 100-yard dash; for children aged 9-years-old through adult, a one-mile run; and a 5K (3.1 miles). You can sign up to participate in advance by registering at www.pbcharity.org.

Approximately $75,000 is needed to be raised to hit the goal of feeding 3,200 families a full Thanksgiving dinner this year. Raffles and a silent auction will also start at 8:45 a.m. at the Turkey Trot to raise more funds. The winners will be drawn at 10 a.m. and you mst be present to win.

Local businesses and friends of the charity were very generous and contributed funds as sponsors: Patriot Place, Foxboro Fit Club, Ocean Spray, Louis and Mary Kay Smith Family Foundation, Mirrione, Shaughnessy & Uitti, LLC, The Norton Family, One Beacon Charitable Trust, Halvorsen Orthodontics, Anonymous, HR Knowledge, Inc., North Easton Savings Bank, Norwood Engineering, Donahue Architects, Inc., Community Counseling of Bristol Country, Inc., Fusion, Michael Vazquez, MD, Taunton Depot, LLC, Art & Soul Tattoo, Barrows Insurance, Brown Real Estate, Data Quest Ltd., Norton Family Dental Group, PC, The Palter Family, The Raman Family, The Produce Barn, The Pro's Car Care Complex, Todesco Plumbing and Heating, Wendell's Pub, The White Family, Koso America, The Harrington Family, Encompass IT, Inc., Connolly Insurance, The Pernock Family, Sharon Credit Union, Southeastern Mass. Detectives Association, Trinitarian Congregational Church, Maplewood Country Day, Easton Chamber of Commerce, the Mellen Family, All Family Construction, Bay Colony Group, Inc., Deaney’s Equestrian Center, Gallagher Family, Kozy Kennels, Loomis Sayles & Company LP, MultiConcept. Inc., Needham Bank, Roberts Mitchell Caruso Funeral Home, Skeleton Crew Builders, LLC, Westwood Family Chiropractic and Medfield SEPAC.

Personal Best Charity is accepting monetary donations as well as donations for its silent auction and raffle. If you would like to make a donation to the Turkey Trot, please make checks payable to Personal Best Charity and mail to 250 East Main Street, Norton, MA 02766. If you would like to contribute a silent auction or raffle item, please email info@pbcharity.org. Personal Best Charity is a 501c3 corporation.

The Turkey Brigade packaging of the dinners will be held on Saturday, Nov. 17th and deliveries will be the following day. All volunteers are welcome to participate in packaging on Saturday or delivery on Sunday. If you are interested in assisting, please email info@pbcharity.org. The Brigade this year will be held at Foxborough Regional Charter School in Foxborough, MA.

The majority of the meals are delivered directly to families in the immediate area. The goal is to ensure that every single family can enjoy at least one day of food surplus and holiday blessing and that no one within our reach is left without a meal on Thanksgiving.