Thousands race through Valparaiso at Porter-Starke Services’ annual Turkey Trot 5k Run/Walk

The streets of Valparaiso were alive Thanksgiving morning as thousands gathered for Porter-Starke Services Foundation’s annual Turkey Trot. This beloved holiday tradition is one of the largest road races in Northern Indiana and always draws a huge crowd of runners, walkers, and volunteers for the 5k through Valpo.

“It’s a great community tradition. You have families, community members, and people from all over the country who are home for the holidays taking part in the race to kick off Thanksgiving Day,” Elliot Miller, the Director of Marketing and Development for Porter-Starke Services, said.

The Turkey Trot began at Valparaiso High School, where participants could be found warming up or performing pre-race rituals. Beyond providing the community with a chance to gather for the holiday, the Turkey Trot provides an excellent opportunity for Porter-Starke Services to promote physical and mental health while raising money for its programming.

“Our mission is to inspire people to have a healthy balance in their lives, and to provide the community with a way to do so. The Turkey Trot is just one example of the ways to do that, ” Miller said.

Hosting a race as large as the Turkey Trot requires the support of many local businesses and organizations. Sponsors like 1st Source Bank, Kankakee Valley REMC, Larson-Danielson Construction, Midwest Center for Youth & Families, and more help supply runners with things like water and let Porter-Starke Services provide each participant with a medal.

In addition to the sponsors, Porter-Starke Services recruits hundreds of volunteers to man water stations, direct participants, and elevate the event to its best. Many volunteers sign up to help at the Turkey Trot because they believe in Porter-Starke Services’ mission.

“My friend Trisha wanted me to volunteer with her today. I’m very grateful for her, so in the spirit of Thanksgiving, I decided to volunteer with her even though I had to wake up at 5:30 this morning,” Chloe Arcelcorral said. “With a race like this, you get to bring people together and see people smiling while running and having a fun time. It’s very cold out, but you can still sense everyone’s happiness as they warm up for the big run.” 

The Turkey Trot is Porter-Starke Services’ largest fundraiser of the year. The money raised ensures that Porter-Starke Services is able to continue providing its mental and behavioral health services while also supporting programs that address substance abuse throughout Northwest Indiana. Beyond being a holiday tradition, the Turkey Trot is important for the wellness of the Region.

“The proceeds from this event benefit the Porter-Starke Services Foundation, and those funds support scholarships in the community,” Miller said. “The funds also support Porter-Starke services programs both at Porter-Starke and Merriam Health Centers, our federally qualified health centers that offer fiscal health care services. The more money that is raised, the more that we can advance our programs.” 

Porter-Starke is very grateful for the continued support the Region has shown the Turkey Trot over the past two decades. Porter-Starke Services is only able to do its important work thanks to the people of the Region continuing to show up for events like the Turkey Trot.

“The support from the community has been wonderful. We have a very generous community in Northwest Indiana. We’ve had a tremendous amount of sponsorships and donations this year,” said Miller. “Porter-Starke Services is celebrating our 50th anniversary this year, and we saw donations increase in addition to corporate sponsorships. We appreciate all the support from participants, volunteers, staff, and everybody who puts the work in to make this happen every year in Valparaiso.” 

To learn more about Porter-Starke Services and its programming, visit www.porterstarke.org.