‘Hunger Challenge’ a success for Food Bank
The first teams competing in the Corner Cupboard Food Bank’s “Hunger Challenge” last Saturday race off to start the challenges. (Photo by Brad Wilson)
Participants of the Corner Cupboard Food Bank's “Hunger Challenge” sift through “mud pies” during one of the many obstacles held during the event. (Photo by Brad Wilson)
WAYNESBURG — As the executive director of the Corner Cupboard Food Bank, Candace Tustin is always looking for innovative ways to raise money to ensure there is always enough food to distribute to Greene County residents who need it.
Well, Tustin, her staff and a host of volunteers came up with a sure-bet winner called the “Hunger Challenge,” a food-themed obstacle course pitting teams of four in a timed competition on a three-mile stretch of the Greene River Trail in Rices Landing.
This inaugural event was held this past Saturday, and Tustin said she could not be happier with the results.
“We had 13 adult teams of four and three or four teams of kids,” she said. “The entry fee was $100 per team and $30 for an individual. We also had some corporate sponsors and I am waiting for some checks to come in before I know what our final total is.
“We received a lot of good feedback from the event and there is no question we will do this again next year,” she added. “But bringing attention to the critical mission of feeding the hungry is just as important as fundraising. I think we accomplished both on Saturday.”
Tustin explained there were 12 challenges along the trail that teams had to conquer. When the challenge concluded around noon, the first champion of the Hunger Challenge was crowned. The Gottsters Elite, composed of members of the Gottschalk family, completed the course in 25 minutes and 45 seconds and walked away with a trophy and a one-month membership at the EQT Rec Center for all four team members.
“All teams were pretty close together,” Tustin said. “I think the last place team was within a half-hour of the winners.”
Some of the challenges included a Dumpster dive, a slip and slide and searching for a treasure in a “mud pie.” Tustin emphasized no actual food was used in any of the obstacles.
“The Hunger Challenge would not have been a success without the contributions from a lot of volunteers and organizations,” she said. “I also received a lot of creative help from friends while planning this.”
The Hunger Challenge is one of the fundraisers that supports the Corner Cupboard Food Bank, which operates on an annual budget of $250,000 to $300,000.