FORT PIERCE — The community will come together Saturday, Sept. 26, 2026 for the sixth annual Out Run Hunger 5K Run/Walk, a major fundraiser for the Treasure Coast Food Bank, supporting the fight against hunger throughout the Treasure Coast.
The event begins at 7 a.m. at Causeway Cove Marina, Fort Pierce.
Entry fee for the race is $40, with all funds raised remaining in our local communities. Participants can register as individuals or teams, and virtual runners are also welcome.
Held every September during Hunger Action Month, a nationwide campaign led by Feeding America, the 5K is about more than crossing a finish line. It raises critical funds while bringing neighbors together to increase awareness of hunger and the growing need for food assistance in our own communities.
Judith Cruz, president and CEO of Treasure Coast Food Bank, has witnessed the changing landscape of food insecurity since the economic downturns of the late 2000s.
These economic changes, along with funding cuts to essential assistance programs at the state and federal levels, the Covid-19 pandemic, and continuing financial uncertainties, have created what she describes as a “never-ending storm of need.”
Today, 20% of people seeking assistance are reaching out for the first time, while the overall number of people asking for help has increased 25% over the past year.
At the same time, rising food costs mean donations do not stretch as far as they once did.
Although the community remains extraordinarily generous, according to Cruz, the size of individual gifts has decreased, making it increasingly difficult to meet demand — including the need for the fall and winter holiday meals.
For many families, asking for help can be a profound shock, particularly for those who have never needed assistance before.
The 5K fundraising run provides an opportunity not only to help provide food, but also to remind the community that hunger can affect anyone.
Every dollar raised provides eight meals for local people in need, with the $40 race entry fee providing meals for 320 of our neighbors in need.
Participants are also encouraged to bring canned goods to the race to help stock the food bank’s dwindling shelves.
Race packet pickup will be held Sept. 25 from 4–7 p.m. at Cobb’s Landing Restaurant in Fort Pierce, where raffle tickets will also be available for a variety of prizes, including golf lessons and Sandpiper Bay Resort day passes.
Volunteers are also needed for numerous race-day positions. Registration, volunteer information and additional details are available at stophunger.org.