Tackling Hunger with the Acworth Turkey Chase
Once a year on a chilly November morning, the community comes together for The Acworth Turkey Chase, an exciting annual tradition in Historic Downtown Acworth that attracts serious runners, casual walkers, and the most festive turkey attire for a great cause! More than just a fun way to spend a Saturday, this 5K fun run and 2K walk serves a significant role in the local fight against hunger. We spoke with the Acworth Parks, Recreation and Community Resource Department's Athletics Coordinator, Edwin Lacher, who took over the program in 2022, to learn more about it.
Tell us about the history of the Acworth Turkey Chase and its mission.
The Acworth Turkey Chase started in 2009 and has been going strong every year since then. Even during the COVID pandemic, we knew it was still important to our community and hosted it virtually that year. Our mission for the Acworth Turkey Chase is to tackle hunger in the area by helping to stock local food pantries during the holiday season.
Can anyone participate? Do you have to be a runner?
Anyone is welcome to participate. We have plenty of participants that walk, run or do a mixture of both! We offer four different race options – a timed 5K that is also a Peachtree Road Race Qualifier, a 5K fun run that participants can walk or run, a 2K walk, and our Little Pilgrim Trot for ages 5 & under where they chase our turkey mascot after all the other races end. The Pilgrim Trot is about 100 yards or so.
For those who have never participated before, what's the racecourse like?
The racecourse winds through Downtown Acworth starting on Center Street right in front of City Hall and making its way down to the lake and through Cauble Park with some great views of Lake Acworth. It eventually wraps through some other trails and parts of Downtown Acworth before ending right back in front of City Hall.
Each race participant has to donate non-perishable food to pick up their race packet; how much food is typically collected through this donation process?
We typically collect about 100 large tote bags full of non-perishable goods to donate to a local community in Acworth that is part of the Marietta Housing Authority. The Marietta Housing Authority provides quality and affordable housing assistance to eligible families in Cobb County. Our Parks and Recreation team delivers the food personally, making the process extra meaningful. The residents are so appreciative, and it's good to know we can help during the holiday season. Any leftover non-perishables are then taken to food pantries at local churches and our own Acworth Police Department.
Do you have to sign-up for the Acworth Turkey Chase to donate to the food drive?
You do not have to sign-up for the Acworth Turkey Chase to donate. The Acworth Community Center will have a collection box for the food drive that people can deliver to during normal business hours in the month of November. We are open Monday – Friday 7 a.m. – 8 p.m. and Saturday from 8 a.m. – 2 p.m.
What has been the best part of coordinating the Acworth Turkey Chase?
The best part of coordinating the Acworth Turkey Chase is race day. It's full of excitement and people having fun. We have some serious runners out there setting PRs, and families out there in matching turkey costumes looking for a fun way to spend a Saturday in the fall!
Thank you, Edwin, for sharing about this wonderful event and all of the work the Acworth Parks, Recreation, and Community Resource Department does to give back to those in need. And THANK YOU, Acworth community, for your incredible contributions to the Tackle Hunger program and participation in the Acworth Turkey Chase since 2009!
