Students, Staff Trot for Homeless Vets

Heather Norris

On Wednesday, November 9th, C.W. Post hosted its tenth annual Turkey Trot. The event, which is hosted every November at the Pratt Recreation Center, features both a five kilometer run and a one mile walk and participants may choose which event they want to enter.

The entry fee for this year’s Trot was one non-perishable food item or a cash donation and all cash proceeds were donated to help homeless veterans while food donations were given to the Beacon House, a veterans’ shelter based in Bay Shore, New York that, according to its website, helps homeless veterans transition from homelessness to “living independently and productively in the community.” The Beacon House was established in 1994 and is responsible for feeding over one hundred people a week in addition to delivering food to homebound elderly patrons.

Fernando Mendoza, a member of the staff, won the 5k race, completing the 3.1-mile loop in just 19:16.62.  Elsa Klarin, a freshman member of the C.W. Post women’s soccer team, was the first female to cross the finish line, coming in at 21:12.26.

According to Martin Guillet, Fitness Director and Associate Director of Recreational Sports, and one of the primary organizers of the event, 220 people registered for the Trot and made a donation.  This year’s event attracted participants from a number of different organizations, departments, ages, and abilities. Pleased with the success of the Trot, Guillet noted: “We met with several groups this year trying to get the word out about the event. I was really happy that we were able to see many new faces as well runners and walkers who we have had participate all 10 years.”

At the end of the day, participants took home a tee-shirt with the event’s logo, the shape of Long Island shaded in the American flag pattern. “It was great to have us connect a cause with the event.  It was an honor to help our veterans in any way we can.  They have given everything for us and we needed to recognize we could do our part, although small in comparison,” said Guillet.