City hosting 5K to benefit homeless shelter

CRESTVIEW — The city of Crestview will host a 5K on Nov. 23 to benefit the Crestview Area Shelter for the Homeless (CASH).

The event, which is part of the mayor’s homelessness initiative program, will begin at 10 a.m. at the Crestview Community Center.

“We don’t know the exact number of homeless we have in Crestview,” said Mayor J.B. Whitten. “I think we need to bring our resources together and help the homeless as much as we can.”

Participation in the 5K costs $10. Anyone wishing to participate is asked to register prior to race day at the Parks and Recreation Office located at the Community Center. All proceeds from the race will go directly to CASH.

Non-perishable food items and clothing donations will also be taken up on the day of the event. According to Whitten, socks are a major need at the shelter, so the city will try to “fill the boot” with donations of new socks still in their packaging.

“There is no particular goal because it’s like baby steps: you have to walk before you can run,” Whitten said. “I said why don’t we do this fundraiser and see if we can get Ann (Sprague) up and running. She has rooms and she has closets, so let’s see if we can get her stocked up.”

Prizes will be awarded after the 5K for first through third place in both the female and male division. Other post-race activities, like Saving With Soul Pet Rescue adoptions, will take place post-race on the Community Center’s lawn.

For more information about the event, contact the Parks and Recreation department at 850-682-0789.

This article originally appeared on Crestview News Bulletin: City hosting 5K to benefit homeless shelter