By Gina Yarbrough
San Diego, CA–Over 7,000 runners and walkers united on Thanksgiving Day to raise more than $450,000 for San Diegans in need at the 23rd annual Father Joe’s Villages Thanksgiving Day 5K in Balboa Park.
The event, presented in partnership with Aya Healthcare, is one of the largest turkey trots in the United States. Participants hailed from San Diego, 41 states, and four countries, including Mexico, Australia, Ireland, and England, according to Father Joe’s Villages.
Elaine Ribeiro and Manuel Correia earned recognition as the top female and male runners.
After crossing the finish line, participants gathered at the Plaza de Panama for post-race festivities. Highlights include live music, a beer garden, a pop-up thrift store hosted by Father Joe’s Villages’ retail team, and family-friendly activities such as photos with Santa and other holiday characters.
Adding to the festivities, students from Father Joe’s Villages’ Culinary Arts Program sold over 250 freshly baked pumpkin-flavored bread loaves, apple walnut with maple icing, and blueberry lemon with streusel, delighting hungry attendees.
The event draws attention to critical issues affecting the San Diego community. According to the Regional Task Force on Homelessness, over 10,000 people experience homelessness in San Diego each night. Additionally, food insecurity impacts many local families, with more than 1 in 4 San Diegans regularly facing nutrition insecurity. For those experiencing both homelessness and hunger, these challenges can create significant barriers to improving their health and achieving stability.
Father Joe’s Villages, a nonprofit dedicated to addressing homelessness in San Diego, plays a vital role in tackling these issues. The organization provides food, housing, and healthcare services to those in need. Programs like the Franklin Antonio Public Lunch Program deliver warm meals and companionship to hundreds daily, offering a lifeline for some of the community’s most vulnerable residents.
