The Hastings Banner — Thursday, May 27, 2021 — Page 11Puppies, prizes and performers: Walkers at Trail
Mix walkathon raise funds for Meals on Wheels
Sophie Bates
Staff Writer
On Saturday, May 22, at the Charlton Park
recreation area,
The Barry County Commission on Aging
held its 32nd annual walkathon fundraiser
Saturday at Historic Charlton Park, raising
$3,566 for the county’s Meals on Wheels
program.
The walkathon traditionally has been in
downtown Hastings, but, after it was canceled
in 2020 because of the pandemic, COA
organizers decided to reinvent the walkathon
for 2021, renaming it the Trail Mix.
In addition to a new name and location,
the walkathon also was open to dogs and
included performers. Local musicians —flutists, a violinist and guitarist — serenaded
walkers as they strolled through Charlton
Park and passed by Thornapple Lake.
The walkathon began at 9 a.m. and after it
finished at around 10, participants gathered
beneath a pavilion for a drawing.
Prizes – for both humans and dogs –
ranged from a squeaky toy to restaurant gift
certificates and a fire ring, donated by Tractor
Supply Co.
The funds raised at the walkathon are the
main source of funding for Meals on Wheels,
which provides hot, cold and frozen meals to
homebound adults age 60 and up throughout
Barry County.
The Meals on Wheels program survived
on donations last year after the walkathon was
canceled.
Including funds that were raised during
the Trail Mix, the COA has $13,667 given by
businesses and from general donations as well
as proceeds from a COA pizza fundraiser in
March to operate Meals on Wheels.Meals on Wheels driver Michelle Baker (left) begins the walkathon’s one-mile loop through Charlton Park with a smile, accom-
panied by Meals on Wheels Chef Theresa Lancaster (back, left), Lisa Baker (center, right) and COA Executive Director Tammy
Pennington. (Photo by Sophie Bates)
Meals on Wheels driver Michelle Baker (center), with help from Breianna Freeman (left) and Lisa Baker (right), raised more
money for the Meals on Wheels walkathon than anyone else, a total of $842. Here, Baker smiles, holding a gift certificate she was
presented for her fundraising efforts. (Photo by Sophie Bates)
Amber Frey kneels to pet her dog, Maya, who is sporting a green Commission on
Aging Trail Mix bandana, while they wait for the walkathon to begin. (Photo by Sophie
Bates)Flutists Aubree McKenzie and Alex Malmquist sit at a picnic bench just off the walk-
athon trail and harmonize as walkers pass by. (Photo by Sophie Bates)Violinist Maggie Murphy performs “Maggie in the Woods” for those passing by. She
paused briefly with a laugh to point out the coincidence between the song’s title, her
name and surroundings. (Photo by Sophie Bates)Guitarist and vocalist Ellie Youngs stands near the shore of Thornapple Lake and
performs for walkers with a rendition of “Stuck in the Middle with You.” (Photo by
Sophie Bates)
Elizabeth Forbes’ dog Evie wanders toward the Charlton Park pavilion, where par-
ticipants gathered after the walkathon, looking for attention. (Photo by Sophie Bates)
For Kim Veldheer, the Trail Mix walk-
athon was an opportunity to train her
8-month-old puppy, Major, while also giv-
ing back to the community. (Photo by
Sophie Bates)After the walkathon, Elizabeth Forbes
gives her dog Tuukka a treat. (Photo by
Sophie Bates)