Running for food donations: how Cougs help Cougs

WSU Vancouver students run 5k for Cougar Food Pantry donations

On a misty Saturday morning in early Sept., 93 volunteers and participants gathered in front of the cafeteria. There was a tired, but excited energy swirling around as 73 participants prepared for their run. As the clock struck 10:10, the runners took off on the course.

WSU Vancouver’s Back to School 5-kilometer brought together students, faculty members and community members for the event. This race was used to collect non-perishable food items for the Cougar Food Pantry.

Janet Duong, the pantry’s resource navigator, Office of Student Involvement wellness intern and senior biology major, was in charge of this project. She, along with Cambri Shanahan, the recreation coordinator, plotted the three-mile route and ran it too. 

Not only did Duong want to bring together students and community members, but also different student organizations. “We have senate involved, CILA [Center for Intercultural Learning and Affirmation], running club and the fitness center,” she said. “We wanted to bridge the gap also between recreation and the fitness center because for the longest time, we thought they were two separate things. But really, it’s all under recreation and OSI.”

Duong said she wanted to ensure anyone from the community could participate and the event reflected this.

The entry fee for the race was a donation of non-perishable food items to support the campus’s Cougar Food Pantry. The 5k route was also stroller and wheelchair accessible. 

The diverse group of participants ranged from community and faculty members to students and families. “Overall, I feel like the 5K was a success. I am so happy with the team that we had that day, everyone was on point, excited and very enthusiastic about helping with the 5K,” Duong said. 

According to Duong, the last 5k was held in 2015. That race had approximately 25 participants and was not wheelchair or stroller accessible. The improvement of the turn out and course inclusiveness was exciting for those who planned the event. 

Pieter Conradie, a junior finance major, completed the hill-riddled, three-mile paved course in 21 minutes, making him the winner. 

“I really liked running this course,” Conradie said. “I wish there were more obstacles or challenges, but I really liked participating today.”