Hunger Run raises $24,000

More than 200 runners and walkers coursed through downtown Omaha streets June 7 for Catholic Charities’ third annual Hunger Run, up from 120 participants last year.

Adding a Kids Dash and a timed race for adults helped boost participation and people were generous, helping the agency raise more than $24,000 – up from 2013’s $15,000 – for its food pantry efforts, including sites at St. Martin de Porres in north Omaha, Juan Diego Center in south Omaha and St. Joseph Parish in Walthill, said Emily Cunningham Kozlik, Catholic Charities’ development director.

"We are grateful to the participants, sponsors and volunteers who made this year’s Hunger Run a huge success," she said. "More than 9,000 families look to us each year for help in feeding their families, and this need is particularly great during the summer months when children are on break from school."

The fundraiser included a 5K run, 5K and one-mile walks and a Kids Dash.