Area residents can get some early morning exercise while raising money for a good cause during the third annual Feed Fairfax 5K and 1-mile fun run/walk. It’s slated for Saturday, May 6, at 8 a.m., with participants meeting in the Planet Fitness parking lot. 

It’s at 13043 Lee Jackson Memorial Hwy., at the far end of the Greenbriar Town Center in Chantilly. But the course, itself, goes through the neighborhood across the street. And the event benefits local nonprofits Western Fairfax Christian Ministries (WFCM) and Food for Others.

Proceeds from the race and walk will support WFCM’s Free Food Fridge program and Food for Others’ Power Pack program. Over the last two years, this event has raised $70,000 and donated more than 50,000 meals. 

Founded in 1987, WFCM has been serving the Western Fairfax community via a variety of programs. One of them is the Free Food Fridge program. During the school year, it provides food for nearly 600 hungry students each week. The program consists of 11 refrigerators inside local schools, plus another three at community sites, including Chantilly High School and the Boys & Girls Club of Chantilly. They’re stocked with food and, because of them, students in need may obtain food to see them through the weekend. 

Food for Others has supported the Northern Virginia community since 1995, addressing food insecurity by providing free groceries to its neighbors in need. Among its operations is the Power Pack program, which serves roughly 3,600 children per week during the academic year. It, too, enables children experiencing food insecurity to have food to eat over the weekend.

At the conclusion of the upcoming race/walk in Greenbriar, participants will lend a hand to this effort by helping fill Power Packs with food for the students. Other race-day activities will include a warmup for the 5K by the YogaSix Burke studio and live music by Nicole DeLoi. Ken Tarr and Shannon Baccaglini will be the emcees. The race will occur, rain or shine.

The cost is: Adults, older than 18, 5K, $40; 1-mile, $30; Children 18 and younger, 5K or 1-mile, $15. Connection Newspapers readers can get 10-percent off by applying the promo code, TheConnection10. Register at Feed Fairfax 5K/Feed Events or at  https://runsignup.com/Race/VA/Fairfax/FeedFairfax5K.

This event is now part of the Feed Events Race Series. Besides the upcoming May 6 race in Chantilly, the Food for Others Tysons 5K is Sept. 9 in Tysons Corner, and the Feed a Veteran 5K is Nov. 11 in Woodbridge. For more information, go to the Website, Feed Fairfax 5K/Feed Events.