On Saturday, May 16, the Planting Hope Fun Run 5K will bring costume contests, food donations and community fundraising to Western Washington University. The 5K aims to support the local nonprofit Growing Veterans and students facing food insecurity.
Participants are encouraged to arrive at 9:30 a.m. for the 10:00 a.m. start in Red Square. This family-friendly event encourages participants to come dressed in their brightest ‘80s gear for a chance to win a prize before the run starts.
A $20 registration fee is required to participate in the 5K, but children under 12 can participate for free. Attendees are encouraged to bring nonperishable food donations and they will be entered into a raffle for a chance to win prizes. Donations from the fundraiser will go toward the WHOLE pantry.
Gabby Montana, a third-year kinesiology student, felt she had multiple reasons to attend this run.
“It's a personal goal of mine to engage in different types of exercise,” Montana said. “It felt like a good introduction to running more.”
Montana said that, as a student, she doesn't have much time to volunteer in the community; this event gives her an easy way to give back.
“I love supporting community organizations, especially when they're local,” Montana said.
Makayla Vail, director of the Community Service Center at Western, said she was excited to take on the challenge of planning this event. For her, this 5K is an opportunity to combine community service and engagement, and give students the chance to get active and involved in the community.
“This event is all about strengthening connections and we're trying to create an opportunity for students to engage with a local organization,” Vail said. “It feels really good to contribute to something bigger than yourself.”
Overall, Vail said she hopes everyone enjoys the 5K.
“The goal is just to bring people together,” Vail said. “As long as everyone's having fun, then I'd say that that's the goal.”
The fundraiser will benefit Growing Veterans, a nonprofit focused on helping veterans cultivate community and purpose through agriculture.
Vail explained that funds from the registration fee and any monetary donations from the event will go to Growing Veterans to support its “Dirt Therapy,” farm operations and sustainable agriculture.
Cody Call, director of Growing Veterans, said that “Dirt Therapy” is one of their programs which connects veterans and locals in Whatcom County through farming and agriculture.
“Our mission is to cultivate purpose and belonging by growing food, community and each other,” Call said.
Every Friday from 9 a.m to noon, the farm hosts a weekly coffee check-in. Anyone is welcome to attend.
The farm creates a safe space and something consistent in people's lives, Call said. While Growing Veterans’ programs focus on addressing veteran and community isolation, Call highlighted that their program also addresses food insecurity. 90% of the produce grown on the farm is donated to the Bellingham Food Bank.
“In 2025, we were able to donate 6,200 pounds to the food bank, and this year we're aiming to donate 8,000 pounds,” Call said.
For Call, events like the Planting Hope Fun Run help Growing Veterans keep operating and spread awareness of the program. He said having partners within Western helps bridge the gap between veterans and the broader community.
“Partnering with places like Western, we get a younger perspective,” Call said. “It brings a new energy, different ideas and it gives us different perspectives in case we have a blind spot.”
Call said he hopes students carry that sense of community beyond the 5K itself.
“Come to the farm, build connection, build community,” Call said. “If it’s not with us, build it with someone else – with your campus, with the people in your apartment complex, just build community.”
That sense of community connection and support is also reflected in the event's encouragement to bring donations to support the WHOLE pantry, located in Viking Union 435.
According to Tulea Enochs, WHOLE pantry coordinator, the pantry provides free food and hygiene products to students experiencing food and basic need insecurity.
Enochs said food insecurity continues to impact a significant portion of Western students, citing a recent survey showing that 45.4% of the student population experiences food and basic needs insecurity. Over the last few years, Enochs has noticed a significant increase in the number of students using the pantry.
“We used to serve around 600 students per week and that's jumped up to 2,400,” Enochs said. “If we were to meet the actual need, you'd probably need a couple of me and a much bigger space – and three times the budget we have to purchase food – and we’d still probably run out.”
Enochs said the donations this 5K will bring are incredibly important, as every little bit helps. Donations give the pantry variety and help bridge the gap between what they need and what's available.
“Events like this provide an opportunity to continue the conversation that this is a systemic issue that is still very prevalent in affecting students,” Enochs said.
Montana said she looks forward to attending the Planting Hope Fun Run this year.
“I'm going with a couple of friends, so I'm excited to bond with them and enjoy our campus,” Montana said. “It's a fun, easy way to support a community organization.”
Piper Jones is a campus life reporter. She is a third-year public relations major and is excited for her first quarter writing for The Front! Outside of school, Piper can be found reading or exploring Bellingham's local trails with her friends. You can reach her at piperjones.thefront@gmail.com.
