Turkey Trot Goes Virtual as ALIVE! Accepts Donations All Over Alexandria

The 45th Annual Turkey Trot and Food Drive for ALIVE! started virtually on Saturday, and the nonprofit has set up food collection points all over the city through November 29.

“We have given away 1.1 million pounds of food since the pandemic began,” ALIVE! Executive Director Jennifer Ayers told ALXnow. “The food need continues to grow. The need is still there and we need all the food and financial support we can get to continue to do what we have to do.”

The five mile race is traditionally attended by thousands. Registration costs $10 for children, $20 for ages 13-20, and $25 for everyone else.

“The 2020 Turkey Trot will be a little different from past years,” notes the Turkey Trot website. “First off, this year will be a virtual event, and you will be able to submit a time from any 5 mile run you complete between November 21 and November 29, 2020.”

Donations are already piling up at distribution points.

“Del Ray, as always, we’re blown away by your generosity,” Visit Del Ray said in a Facebook post. “Already, you’ve FILLED the sidewalk in front of  The Dog Store for our food drive for ALIVE — and this is just one of our six drop-off locations!”

This year ALIVE! needs the following: 

• One-pound bags of rice
• One-pound bags of dried beans
• Macaroni and cheese boxes
• Canned vegetable, soup and fruit (14-15 oz.)
• Canned tuna or canned chicken
• Baking mix, such as Bisquick (5-7 oz.)
• Peanut butter

The food can be dropped at these locations:

• Old Town North Farmers’ Market (Thursday from 3 p.m. to 8 p.m.)
• Del Ray Psych & Wellness
• Lena’s Wood-Fired Pizza & Tap
• Del Ray Farmers’ Market (Saturday from 8 a.m. to noon)
• The Dog Store
• Waxing The City
• The front porches of 403 E. Custis Avenue and 110 E. Del Ray Avenue

Incidentally, the first Alexandria Turkey Trot in 1975 had 244 participants, and was won by Jack Mehurin in 25 minutes and seven seconds. Last year’s race had 4,965 entries and was won by 23-year-old Ryan Forsyth in 23 minutes and 34 seconds.

There’s more than one way to support ALIVE!, like the first annual Turkey Squat at T.C. Williams High School.

Here’s how you can support ALIVE! this Thanksgiving! ALIVE! is thankful for you and our community! https://t.co/3wurxW2APn

— ALIVE! (@ALIVE4AlexVA) November 22, 2020

Photo via Visit Del Ray/Facebook