We are excited to be heading back to San Jose for the San Jose Rock ‘n’ Roll 1/2 Marathon October 3rd. Last year we collected 500 pairs of shoes that all went to help those in need in the local San Jose community. This year all the shoes we collect will be donated to CityTeam Ministries.
In San Jose, CityTeam Ministries is providing hot meals, safe shelter, showers, and clean clothing to this city’s homeless population. CityTeam also has a wonderful staff that care for and meet the needs of the youth and families in San Jose. A recovery program is in place for those men and women that are on a road of destruction from drugs and alcohol. CityTeam Ministries also distributes food boxes, backpacks filled with school supplies, clothing and household goods and furniture to families in need throughout the south Bay Area.
Thousands of people in the San Jose area woke up today hungry and homeless. For the poorest of the poor among us, this is real life. Living under bridges, rummaging through trash cans for scraps of food and desperately searching for other ways to survive. Many believe they are a throw-away society.
The CityTeam Rescue Mission restores hope, faith and dignity to the homeless who are easily overlooked in the community. Every night homeless guests at the Rescue Mission are provided with food, a hot shower, toiletries, clean clothes, and a freshly laundered bed. A hot meal is often the first step to helping a homeless person get off the streets.
Even though running is considered an individual sport, at the San Jose Rock ‘n Roll 1/2 Marathon this year you can be part of a team, CityTeam! Make sure to gather as many pairs as you can, men’s, women’s and children’s, and donate them at the Health and Fitness Expo. They always say there is strength in numbers, let’s prove it to those in need in San Jose by working together and donating another 500 pairs!
I’d never been to San Jose California until this event and let me tell you, it’s a GREAT city! After driving with my neighbor/volunteer, Steve Bailey, up north we finally pulled into San Jose ready to dump our gear at the expo location in hopes of having a great turnout the next day. Not sure what to expect since this event had fewer runners enrolled, 11,800 or so, considerably less than the past two events we attended, we started Friday anticipating a low turnout at the expo. We had a pleasant surprise when we took in over 100 pairs the first day. Then Saturday rolled around and the crowd was even bigger with many of the runners telling us they would donate on race day. Sure enough they did and the final tally came to a little over 500 pairs! The most ever for us at an event.
