For 42 years, intrepid RPCVs in Madison have been warming up winter with a heart-of-gold 5K/10K run called Freeze for Food. For the past eight years, they’ve contributed the money they raise to Open Doors for Refugees, an all-volunteer organization that helps refugees make a home in the Madison area.
“Open Doors for Refugees is a perfect fit for us,” said Kate Schachter, Freeze for Food’s co-director and an RPCV (Ghana, 2004-2007 and the Republic of Georgia, 2016-2017). “They help newcomers find housing, and they help them get set up with everything from donated furniture to dishes to winter clothing to backpacks and school supplies. They also provide some funds for food and personal items and small grants to help refugees starting businesses. We donate 100 percent of the proceeds from Freeze for Food to Open Doors for Refugees.”
Organizing and putting on a run is a significant undertaking, but Freeze for Food has become a Madison tradition that raises winter-weary spirits — and a goodly amount of money. “This year’s run brought out 404 registered participants,” said Schachter. “While the final totals are still being put together, it looks like we will again generate a record donation to Open Doors of over $16,000. It was a fun time for everyone involved — and they got to meet a couple of the refugee families that Open Doors has helped.”
For other RPCV groups who might consider starting a fun run in their communities, Schachter is happy to share some of the lessons Freeze for Food organizers have learned over the years.
- There are always permits to be gotten, and it pays to start early since the paperwork process can be slow. Freeze for Food starts in a city park, necessitating permits from Madison’s city government. Additionally, their route goes through University of Wisconsin property, so it’s necessary to work with the university administration. Both entities require Certificates of Insurance, another challenge to obtain in a timely manner. Both the city police and university police are involved in “parade permits” and review/approval of routes and safety precautions.
- The last two years of COVID made it impossible to hold a live event, but the virtual events they hosted in 2021 and 2022 were so successful, they’re keeping virtual registration as an option for those who want to show their support. “We’ve had people from as far away as Hawaii and South Africa participate in the virtual event,” Schachter said.
- Freeze for Food made the shift to a race timing company that uses “chip timing” a few years ago, and that increased their participant numbers. “A racer’s chip time is measured from when that racer crosses the starting line to when they cross the finish line,” said Schachter. “Clock time, on the other hand, is measured from the moment the race starts — regardless of a racer’s starting position in the pack of runners — to when the racer crosses the finish line. For serious racers, this difference makes chip time more meaningful, so it was a good move for us.”
- It’s Race Time, the race timing company the Freeze for Food organizers use, has provided excellent service, and the company has a policy of donating 5 percent of its profits to the non-profit chosen by Freeze for Food. Additionally, It’s Race Time provided virtual event services free of charge during COVID to make it possible for Freeze for Food to keep the race alive.
- An event like this has a lot of moving parts and a steep learning curve. “We’ve found, though, that non-profits in Madison that put on races like this are willing to share what they know,” said Schachter. Her recommendation for any group considering starting a race is to find a local organization willing to share their knowledge and experience.
Schachter is also happy to share what Freeze for Food has learned. You can reach her at Freeze@RPCVMadison.org
Article written by Cynthia Pulham Wolfe, the communications team lead for PCC4Refugees.