Turn Miles into Milestones
For 25 years, Father Joe's Villages Thanksgiving Day 5K has brought our community together around a simple idea—helping ensure our neighbors experiencing homelessness have access to nutritious meals and hope for a brighter future.
For many, a warm meal is more than nourishment—it can be the first milestone on the path toward stability, healing, and hope.
Every dollar you raise helps create those milestones. Whether this is your first 5K or you've participated for years, thank you for choosing to make an even greater impact by fundraising.
Every Gift Matters
Every dollar you raise helps support Father Joe's Villages Food Services Program, providing nutritious meals to neighbors experiencing hunger, food insecurity, and homelessness. Your fundraising makes it possible to serve thousands of meals each day—and every gift, no matter the size, helps create hope.
Ready to Get Started? It's easier than you think. Follow these simple steps:
Create Your Fundraiser
Personalize your fundraising page when you register for the 5K and share your personal story and mission. Let people know why you're passionate about our cause and why they should join you and make a bigger impact!
Click to learn about our cause
Set Your Goal
Be the first person to donate to your fundraiser--even a small gift shows your commitment and inspires other to give. Set an achievable fundraising goal. If you meet it, you can always continue and watch your impact grow!
Click to donate
Invite Your Friends
Share on social media, send a few texts, email family and friends, or invite coworkers to join you in raising funds by signing up or donating to your page. And invite them to join you on race day by creating a team together. Run for hope!
Click to create a team
Thank Your Donors
Every donation deserves a heartfelt thank you. Send a quick email, text, handwritten note, or post a thank-you on social media. Showing your appreciation lets your donors know their support matters—and makes them more likely to give again.
Thank you for fundraising!
Fundraiser Rewards
Every dollar you raise provides meals for our neighbors expereienceing homelessness. As a thank you for your generous support, fundraisers can earn exclusive rewards throughout the campaign, including event merchandise, commemorative hoodies, long-sleeve shirts, express check-in, and VIP parking at select fundraising milestones.Together we'll celebrate this incredible achievement on November 26 and the lives you've helped change.
Fundraising FAQs
While fundraising is completely optional, every dollar you raise helps Father Joe's Villages provide meals, shelter, healthcare, employment services, and other life-changing programs for our community experiencing homelessness.
Whether you raise $25 or $2,500, every contribution makes a meaningful difference for our neighbors in need.
As a thank you, fundraisers can earn exclusive rewards throughout the campaign, including event merchandise, commemorative hoodies and long-sleeve shirts, express check-in, and VIP parking at select fundraising milestones.
Need help getting started? Create a fundraising page during registration. It takes just a few minutes, and we'll provide fundraising tips, tools, and sample messages to help you reach your goal.
While there is no fundraising minimum to participate in the Thanksgiving Day 5K. Every dollar you raise helps provide meals and critical services for neighbors experiencing homelessness. Whether you raise $25 or $2,500, your impact makes a difference.
A great first fundraising goal is $100. It may seem like a big number at first, but it's more achievable than you might think.
Start by making a $25 donation to your own fundraising page, then ask three friends or family members to match your gift with a $25 donation. Just like that, you've reached your first $100!
Once you reach your goal, consider raising it. Many fundraisers are surprised by how much support they receive after taking that first step and continuing to share their story.
Yes! If you're participating with a team, each team member can create their own fundraising page, and individual fundraising totals will contribute to the team's overall impact. It's a fun way to encourage one another and work toward a shared goal.
Share why you're participating in the Thanksgiving Day 5K and why supporting Father Joe's Villages is important to you. People are more likely to give when they connect with your personal story and Father Joe's mission.
If you'd like help talking about homelessness or explaining the impact of Father Joe's Villages, we've put together a resource with key facts, respectful language, and conversation tips. Learn how to talk about homelessness here: https://runsignup.com/Race/FJV5K/Page/Fundraising-Resources
