The Oneida Daily Dispatch (Oneida, NY)
Turkey Trot brings in food pantry donations
The Oneida Turkey Trot helped raise money for sports boosters while also helping fill the local food pantry.
More than 175 people participated in the first annual Turkey Trot in the City of Oneida, joining together for exercise and good will.
Organized in less than six weeks, the Turkey Trot hosted on Thanksgiving in the City of Oneida had a multi-faceted purpose: to fill the local food pantry with donations, encourage healthy fun, and raise money for the Oneida City School District Junior Class, support the Oneida Sports Boosters, and pay homage to long-time Oneida gym teacher Therese Costello.
In total, 190 runners participated, with 177 in the costume-friendly 5K road race, joining in the day’s sense of community spirit.
From those 190 runners and other volunteers, the Turkey Trot, organized by OCSD teacher and soccer coach Scott Fallon, generated 400 cans of non-perishable items for donation.
The top five finishers are as follows:
•Dakota Corney (Oneida)
•David Gratien (Chittenango)
•Seth McDonald (Sherrill)
•Alex Slayton (Rhinebeck, NY)
•Sean Spooner (Oneida) Fallon says he received nothing but positive feedback fol- lowing the Trot, and fully intends to continue the event next Thanksgiving. He thanked Christine Cronk (Head of finance) and Kelly Lammermann (head of Public Relations) for getting the junior class involved in helping with the race. The race organizer also thanked: Cavanagh Painting, Sassy Expressions, Oneida Pediatrics, Wilber Duck, Marshall CPA, Bas- 2017Turkey Trot organizer Scott Fallon addresses runners during the Turkey Trot held on Thanksgiving. sin and Hession Orthodontics, Little Ceasar’s, and Myles Nashton, Brian Cavanagh, Scott Smith, Brahim Zogby, Dan LaSalle, Chris Meeker, Jodi Tiffin, Jason Tiffin, David Durkee, Tom O’Herien of the Oneida Water department for blockades and cones, as well as the Oneida Police Department and Oneida Fire Department.