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Saturday’s Race to Save the Harvest signing up racers

Volunteers from Salem Harvest go collect excess produce (Courtesy/Salem Harvest)

Local nonprofit Salem Harvest has invited people to help raise money for the program by completing a 3k or 5k and so far, 145 people have taken up the offer. 

The event is scheduled for Saturday, July 10 at Minto-Brown Island Park beginning at 9 a.m. and running until noon. 

To maximize space between participants, the race will have staggered start times. During registration, participants were able to choose a time window to start but with the race just four days away, only one time period remains open: 10-10:15 a.m. 

Those registering now will also miss out on the opportunity to grab a free t-shirt with their registration fee of $25 for adults and $15 for kids. However, they will still be entered into the prize raffle. 

Both courses, the 3k and 5k, will take place in different loops and have different starting points to adhere to social distancing. 

Salem Harvest Executive Director Elise Bauman said everyone, not just runners, are welcome at the event. 

The Oregon Blueberry Commission mascot Ima Blueberry will be in attendance as will the organization’s big yellow truck, Sunflower, which will be collecting bottle and can donations. Sponsor Re/Max Integrity will also be at the race handing out water bottles. 

All of the money raised between registrations and can and bottle donations will go towards running the program, Bauman said. 

The nonprofit, which harvests food that would otherwise go to waste and distributes it to those in need, requires funds to insure its harvesters, purchase boxes for food distribution and keep Sunflower gassed up. 

For more information or to register visit runsignup.com/racetosavetheharvest. To donate to Salem Harvest visit salemharvest.org/Support.php

-Caitlyn May