Voice of Hope 5K run/walk Saturday

MARION - Voice of Hope Pregnancy Center's staff and supporters remain committed to the mission of serving women and families in Marion, Crawford and Wyandot counties with informational programs and resources. To help fund that mission, the organization is inviting area residents to participate in its 5K Run/Walk for Life on Saturday at Marion Harding High School.

"This entire ministry started from the pro-life aspect of being a pregnancy center and a home for pregnant teens in a crisis situation," Executive Director Barbara Mills said. "We've now developed into three pregnancy centers. We partner with families and help them get the education they need. What we do is based on people who believe in what we do. They like what they're seeing. They've seen the outcomes. We have individuals, churches and businesses that keep us going."

Mills said fundraising events like the 5K run/Walk for Life also help Voice of Hope keep going. Registration can be completed online at runsignup.com. Type in Voice of Hope 5K Run/Walk to access the race page.

The registration fee is $30. Runners and walkers can register beginning at 8 a.m. Saturday at the Harding High School cross country course. The race begins at 9 a.m.

"The course is beautiful," Mills said. "The first mile we're going to use for a kiddie fun run. We have T-shirts and ribbons for the kids. We'll set the runners off first and then the kids will follow. We'll have raffle gifts, too. What we're encouraging people to do is collect sponsors, to tell their circle of influence, 'I'm running for life. I'm running for Voice of Hope. Will you sponsor me to run?' We'll give a gift to the top three who raise the most the money."

The 5K Run/Walk for Life in Marion is the fourth fundraiser Voice of Hope has conducted in 2016. The organization held brunches in March at Voice of Truth Ministries in Bucyrus and Trinity United Methodist Church in Upper Sandusky, then sponsored two walks in May in Bucyrus and Upper Sandusky.

"Our goal is to raise $10,000," Mills said. "We have raised over $4,000 from our walks in Bucyrus and Upper Sandusky. Our donors do a great job supporting us and we appreciate them."

Mills said the generosity of donors allows Voice of Hope to provide families with diapers, baby and children's clothing, baby food, formula and baby furniture, and also funds educational programming. She said women can earn "baby bucks" to purchase items by taking classes in the Earn While You Learn program, a faith-based curriculum offered at Voice of Hope.

"We encourage women to choose life, but it's our stance that we don't want to ask women who are currently in a crisis to something that's going to be difficult without saying, 'We're also going to partner with you,'" Mills said. "We partner with them through resources. We partner with them through mentorship. We want to build relationships."

Mills said the center is in the process of adding a fatherhood initiative to its program lineup. She said there has been an increase in the number of men seeking help and education.

The Voice of Hope office in Marion County is located at 217 W. Center St. in downtown Marion, and can be contacted by calling 740-223-0419. The Crawford County office is located at 115 W. Rensselear St. in Bucyrus. The telephone number is 419-562-2274. The Wyandot County office is located at 134 E. Wyandot Ave. in Upper Sandusky. The phone number is 419-294-2273.

For information about Voice of Hope Pregnancy Center, visit the website www.betheldonors.org. Follow Voice of Hope Pregnancy Center on Facebook.

Voice of Hope 5K Run/Walk for Life

Saturday at Marion Harding High School

Fee: $30. Registration at 8 a.m. Run/walk at 9 a.m.

Info: runsignup.com or www.betheldonors.org

eacarter@gannett.com

740-375-5154

Twitter: @AndrewCarterMS