The annual commUNITY 5K will be held on Saturday, Oct. 15, at Strasburg Jaycee Park, 218B Miller St. Registration will begin at 7:30 a.m. and the race will begin at 9 a.m. A lower registration fee will be offered to those who register online prior to Saturday, Oct. 1, as well as a guaranteed shirt for the race.

This year will mark the eighth annual commUNITY 5K, which was previously held at the Lampeter Church of Brethren. Three years ago, the race changed locations to Strasburg Jaycee Park, and the date was moved to coincide with Strasburg Community Day. The Community Day event will be held from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., and participants in the race will have access to a barbecue and multiple kids' activities as the 5K comes to a close. "The 5K has been a fun event because it's for both runners and walkers of all ages," said Karen Bender, an organizer for the event. "There's a group of folks that run for time and there's a group that's out there with their family and friends. The race offers a wide variety and brings people together in the community." To register for the commUNITY 5K, visit https://community5k.com/.

Activities following the race will include a cornhole tournament, children's face painting and theatrical performances by Piercing Word, which bases its productions on Scripture. Strasburg Community Day is organized by the Strasburg Ministerium, and both the 5K and the Community Day will benefit the Lampeter-Strasburg Homes of Hope.

Homes of Hope is a program dedicated to assisting families with school-age children that are experiencing homelessness. For six to nine months, families are provided with housing through the program and are assisted with developing multiple skills to become self-sufficient. Services include guidance on budget management and mentoring to help secure permanent housing, and several other school districts in the county have their own "home" affiliated with the program. The 5K was initially started as a means to raise money for the Lampeter-Strasburg Homes of Hope and remains its largest yearly fundraiser.

The Homes of Hope program is a coordinated effort of multiple churches in the area and an affiliate of Love INC of Lancaster County. Love INC aims to assemble churches and organizations in local communities to help those in need, and the organization has 115 locations across multiple states, encompassing over 7,000 partner churches and 15,000 volunters.

For more information on Homes of Hope, visit https://loveinclancaster.org/homes-of-hope/.