Waxahachie, TX
October 12, 2018 | Mikayla Heldt
Southwestern Assemblies of God University (SAGU) Southwestern Missions Association (SMA) will host their Second Annual Turkey Trot 5K on Thursday, November 15. All proceeds will go to the Giving Project to raise money for a children’s home in Venezuela.
After the success of last year’s Turkey Trot, which raised around $1500 to build a playground in Moscow, Russia for disabled children, SMA decided to make this a fun, annual event to help raise money for the Giving Project every year.
SMA’s Giving Project this semester is called Samuel’s House – a home to help needy children on the streets and in marginalized areas in Venezuela, according to Intercultural Studies Adjunct Professor Rennae de Freitas. The home was started by Assemblies of God World Missionaries, Gary and Patty Heiney. Due to a lot of civil unrest caused by terrible inflation and growing socialism, Samuel’s House was raided and lost a lot of food and supplies.
“They’re in a very needy situation and we thought this is an opportune time,” de Freitas says.
Each dormitory on campus has been assigned to a child in the home, and there is competition between each of the dorms during the semester to see who can raise the most money.
“Each hall has a specific kid this semester, so they’ll be running for that kid, not just running in a circle for three miles,” SMA treasurer Krista Woodson says.
The 5K will be $5 for SAGU students, and $20 for anyone else who wants to participate.
“Anybody’s welcome to join, SAGU or not SAGU, anybody and everybody.”
Woodson, along with the rest of the hardworking SMA team, are excited to put on this annual event. They hope that it draws the community together and shows the importance of giving to an important cause.
“This is just a fun way for people to participate in raising funds… It has a purpose behind it, a good purpose.”
Southwestern Assemblies of God University is a private, Christian university located 30 minutes south of the Dallas/Fort Worth Metroplex in Waxahachie, Texas. The university was established in 1927, and now offers more than 70 associate, bachelor’s, master’s and doctoral degrees on campus or online. More information is available at www.sagu.edu
