MANKATO — For those in the know, it’s called the “summit and plummet.”
The Climb 2 Feed Kids fundraiser is cold but fun, one participant said. On the day of the climb, which is Feb. 2 this winter, each team member climbs up the tubing hill, grabs a tube and slides down to the bottom, signaling the next team member to go.
Teams are awarded prizes for fastest time, team spirit and most funds raised. Community members also can commit to fundraising for Feeding Our Communities Partners without undertaking the outdoor summit and plummet at Mount Kato.
The fundraiser is in its 12th year and usually raises $100,000 for Feeding Our Communities Partners. This year organizers have set a goal of $110,000.
“It is typically our largest fundraiser of the year,” said Holly Dodge, communications coordinator with Feeding Our Communities Partners. “We rely on it for our food budget.”
The rising cost of food is impacting everyone, including the food-insecure youth who Feeding Our Communities serves. “We’re at our highest number of youth enrolled at this time of year,” Dodge said, “and we anticipate a rise in enrollment with winter break coming.”
They purchase their food to give away to make sure they meet nutritional guidelines and to purchase age-appropriate food, she said. “We eliminate any barriers.”
Though she doesn’t have local figures, Dodge said there are 18 million households in the U.S. that face food insecurity, according to the USDA.
And while universal lunches are wonderful, food-insecure youth still need meals during school-gap times such as weekends and holiday breaks, she said.
Presented by Scheels, Climb 2 Feed Kids’ registration is now open and will continue to be open until the day of the event, Dodge said. The event is 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the Mount Kato tubing hill. Teams of five to 10 people commit to fundraise for Feeding Our Communities.
It’s a great team-building opportunity for clubs, youth groups, families and businesses. Betsy Geer at Scheels has recruited seven people to their team so far, though she’s aiming for 10.
“It is such a great organization,” she said. “They do such good work in our community. It’s amazing how many kids they can feed. We’re happy to be the title sponsor.
“We’re really just excited for the event. It’ll be cold but fun.”
Sean O’Connell, a Mankato East High School boys soccer coach, ran in Climb 2 Feed Kids last year and will this year if his team of runners needs him. If not, he’ll volunteer instead, he said.
“It’s kind of a no-brainer,” he said. “We love FOCP, my wife and I do. We love everything it stands for and the work it does in our community.”
To register for Climb 2 Feed Kids, go to climb2feedkids.org.