(No; I’m not inviting myself over for dinner but thank you just the same. I have my own plans.)
Maybe you’ve already braved the New York City holiday crowds to watch the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade in person (twice for me!)
Maybe you’ve huddled under a blanket with friends on a frigid Thanksgiving eve at Central Park West and 81st Street to witness a giant Snoopy and Spiderman come to life in all their inflated glory! (Magical!) Or maybe you’ve made your own holiday tradition of watching the parade at home in your pajamas, sneaking off to the kitchen to pinch a tender, golden, savory piece of turkey (from the back where no one will notice!)
Of course, we’re also thankful for our family and friends, our health, our homes, our jobs (or at least the hope of attaining any of these things), so why not extend this gratitude even further (and have some fun while we’re at it)? I’m talking about something that lasts much longer than Aunt Mabel’s amazing sweet potato pie. Yes, that’s right: the 12th Annual Mercer County Turkey Trot 5k foot race/1 mile walk that supports the Mercer Street Friends Food Bank and other local food pantries. It will be held this year on Thursday. November 28th (Thanksgiving Day) from 8:30 to 11:30 a.m. at Mercer County Park in West Windsor. register now at https://www.mercercountyturkeytrot.com . There’s even a Mercer County Turkey Trot playlist on Spotify to inspire you to continue to put one foot in front of the other to complete the race!
Expecting family or friends for holiday dinner? Make it a group event. You’re good at delegating:
“The three of us will run the race. You two pick up Uncle Mike at the train station. The last one up stays here and bastes the turkey. Don’t fall asleep. Don’t let the turkey burn. Keep basting!”
Or maybe you’d rather volunteer behind the scenes. Volunteers are needed on race day (Nov. 28th) at Mercer County Park from 6:00 to 10:30 a.m. to set up awards, check in runners, distribute t-shirts and bibs, direct runners on the course, and help clean up. (For more information, go to
Volunteers are also needed before race day: Sunday, November 24th from 9:30 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. and/or Tuesday November 26th from 4:00 to 6:30 p.m. at Mccaffrey’s in West Windsor, to help make packets and distribute them to runners. You can also donate non-perishable food items (cereal, rice, juice boxes, etc.), or toiletries (shampoo, soap, toothpaste, etc.). No glass containers or fresh food.
PARKING: Fields 3-9 Parking Lot P1, especially if you have to leave before the race is completed. Come early. Otherwise, use the Marina Parking area (P3).
Check the New Jersey Transit website or app for directions by public transportation.
Mercer Street Friends “(provides) a range of integrated services…and offer(s) resources that build community, nurture self-worth and independence for individuals, children and families to overcome poverty.” (https://mercerstreetfriends.org)
Happy Thanksgiving to all!
Karen Carson
Contributing writer, Trenton Daily
