If you, like me, are just now recovering from a County Fair-induced food coma, you too can appreciate how blessed we are in Austin to have such a wide variety of exciting community events to enjoy.  What you often don’t see, from Freedom Fest to the ArtWorks Festival and everything in between, are the countless people working behind the scenes to make these events safe and enjoyable for all ages.

I’d like to highlight one upcoming event in particular, Harvest Fest, and the incredible support it’s received from all corners of the community.  This year will mark the second annual edition of this fun fall fling, and you can barely count all of the different sponsors and volunteers who are making it happen.  Dozens of local business and nonprofits have bought into this event and the impact it is creating throughout Austin, and Vision 2020 is proud to be a part of it.

Mower Refreshed deserves special recognition for their leadership and vision as they are working to expand the reach of their annual Harvest 5K run/walk.  Healthy living is a goal we can all rally around, and we know how a little help can go a long way for families in need.  Proceeds from the 5K go to benefit area food shelves, which just goes to show that having fun and doing good can go hand in hand.

The 5K starts at 9 a.m. on September 17th, and from 10-2 you can enjoy a bunch of other free, interactive activities like canoeing, food canning, arts and crafts, games, and more.  The “Passport” activity is also back again this year, which encourages you to stop at local establishments to receive stamps in your booklet.  The more stamps you get, the more prizes you are eligible for!

You can find ongoing updates at mowerrefreshed.org/harvest-5k/, or follow Mower Refreshed on Facebook and Instagram.  There are so many ways to get involved and participate in this event, whether it is through volunteering, donating, or just showing up to enjoy the festivities.

We know you’ll have a great time, and don’t forget to support all of the other great events that happen throughout the year.  The 2017 Austin ArtWorks Festival is coming up on the 26th and 27th, which is also growing bigger and better every year.  Please consider taking a moment to think about all of the great things going on in Austin, and to thank a volunteer or sponsor for their work.  All of us, together, are building a stronger community!