Grocery stores are in business to provide food to their customers but Burnsville food co-op, Valley Natural Foods, wants to do more by extending community outreach to families in the community and by educating people on healthy lifestyle options. Valley Natural Foods’ fifth annual Run for Hope 5K, hosted on its property on May 2, 2015, does just that, with all proceeds benefiting The Foundation for Early Childhood Family Services (ECFS) of Apple Valley-Eagan-Rosemount public school district 196. The funds will be used to support nutrition programming in the classroom through Dakota County LANA (Learning About Nutrition through Activities) curriculum for to support building a playground at the new Dakota Valley Learning Center in Apple Valley that houses 27 early childhood and adult classrooms. The 2014 Run for Hope 5K had 350 participants and raised $15,000 for ECFS.
The Run for Hope 5K is a family event, which encourages participants to run, walk or stroll in the race, while also featuring children’s activities and stretching exercises led by Platinum Yoga in Burnsville. The run also has a team challenge, encouraging people to form personal running and corporate teams to raise money for ECFS. All registrants receive lots of free swag, including many healthy snacks, a t-shirt, and a custom race bibs. Gift cards to Valley Natural Foods will be provided as prizes for the top 3 women, men, and children age 16 and under. People are encouraged to register by March 31 to get a t-shirt in their size.
About Valley Natural Foods:
Since 1977, Valley Natural Foods has served the south metro with its FRESH values, which are Family, Relationships, Education, Sustainability and Health. Everyone is welcome to shop the co-op, not just the store’s 10,000+ members. The co-op carries a broad selection of organic, local and natural products within its grocery, produce, meat and deli departments. Valley Natural Foods has two Down in the Valley wholesale labels which include meat from local Minnesota producers and gluten-free baked goods. Discover more information about Valley Natural Foods at their website.
About The Foundation for Early Childhood Family Services:
The Foundation for Early Childhood Family Services was formed by devoted community members. Its mission is to make sure that ECFE, School Readiness, and all the ECFS programs remain vital so they can continue to improve the quality of life in our community. ECFS offers families with children from birth through prekindergarten a variety of programs and services. These opportunities are specially designed for all babies, toddlers, and prekindergarten children with their parents.
