Hundreds 'Trot' to help food bank

SANDPOINT — Because it's fun.

For more of the 400-plus people who turned out for this year's Turkey Trot, the reason they turned out on a cold Thanksgiving morning was a chance to have a little fun and help the Bonner Community Food Bank.

Kelli Sorrell and daughter Harlie Mays, visiting her mom for Thanksgiving, love to run and wanted to do something fun to kick off the holiday. Having taken part in similar events in other communities, when the pair heard about the Sandpoint benefit run, they knew they had to take part.

"We loved that it was for a food bank," Mays said.

Sorrell said they also love that such runs are a chance to do something fun with others in the community — and in the case of Sandpoint's Turkey Trot, help others at the same time. To add to the fun, the pair even dressed up with Mays buying matching outfits — brightly colored tulle tutus, black T-shirts with "Trot that Turkey" emblazoned above a running turkey and autumn-colored, striped fingerless gloves and tights. 

"I wanted to make it special," Mays said of getting the outfits.

Sorrell said she, too, found the event fun — especially since it was something she could do with her daughter and others in the community.

"It's something fun to do as a family and as a community," she added. "I enjoy doing something as mother and daughter."

The event featured its first float — thanks to Jake and Payton Smith, who recently moved to town with their young daughter, Freyja, and family members who came to town for the Thanksgiving holiday.

Working steadily over a day, the quartet transformed a running baby stroller into a top hat-wearing turkey with a plumage of red, orange and yellow tailfeathers covering the stroller's handle.

Payton Smith, with previous experience in making parade floats, helped organize the construction and creating the stroller-based float was a great tradition to start for Freyja's first Thanksgiving, Jake Smith said.

"I think we both feel like Thanksgiving is a time where we're incredibly fortunate and grateful for what we have, but also to be able to give back to the community and give to as many people as you can," Payton Smith added. "We were so excited to donate today and show up with other people who are donating to help others"

Once the concept was settled on, wire, tissue paper and a giant foam ball were transformed into the turkey, attracting smiles and applause from others at the benefit run.

Besides the fun of creating the float, the couple said the event was the perfect start to their Thanksgiving.

"We love starting the day outside with the community and just being out in the fresh air and doing something healthy," Payton Smith said. "We're always excited to meet new people in town. We love Sandpoint, we love the sense of community in this town. We came here to visit about two years ago and fell in love with the area and knew we had to move here."

For Sandpoint officials, the event was a chance to gather as a community and to showcase the new James E. Russell Sports Center, which was formally dedicated Tuesday. Thursday's Turkey Trot was a chance to open the $7.5 million facility to the community so they could see what the past 18-plus months have been leading up to, Mayor Jeremy Grimm told the crowd.

The entire facility was built without taxpayer dollars and operating costs will be funded through user fees. From racquetball, tennis, and pickleball to a safe place to walk to movie showings, the facility will be a center for community activities, Grimm said.

"It's something the community has wanted for decades, an indoor sports facility," the Sandpoint mayor said.

Jason Welker, the city's Community Planning and Development director, also welcomed the crowd and members of the James E. Russell family to both the Turkey Trot and the grand opening of the sports facility.

Made possible through the largest donation to a city in Idaho's history, Welker said the facility will be open to the public daily for free to walk a one-sixth-mile-long loop as well as 90 minutes of free community playtime for pickleball and tennis each day. A host of other events are planned, including an upcoming free showing of "Home Alone" on the facility's 52-foot movie screen.

While upcoming events are planned, Sandpoint and Litehouse YMCA officials said Thursday's event was about community and helping others through the Bonner Community Food Bank.

"This event was started to build community," Heidi Bohall, Litehouse YMCA branch executive, said. "Thank you for helping us build community in Sandpoint."

    Jake, Payton and Freyja Smith pose for a photo by their stroller-based float before the start of Thursday's Turkey Trot benefit run.
  

    Turkey Trotters wave to the camera while taking part in the Thursday event.
  

    Harlie Mays and Kelli Sorrell run through Travers Park as they take part in Sandpoint's annua Turkey Trot benefit run.