This spring, 25 FOS teams raised $13,666 for 17 local nonprofits. The collective effort included team fundraising, FOS contributions and matching funds from an anonymous donor. 

During the spring season, each elementary and middle school team meets to discuss the impact they want to have on their community and select a nonprofit beneficiary for which to raise funds or goods. This year, runners placed an emphasis on food access as an increasing number of Upper Valley families rely on food pantry assistance. "We met as a team and talked about the things we’d like to change in our world. The kids did not like the fact that there are children in our community who don’t have enough food to eat,” says Nina D’Cruze, Coach at Mount Lebanon Elementary School, whose team raised funds for Willing Hands last year.

The White River School BATs collected hundreds of cereal boxes for Sharing and Caring Food Pantry, a 24 hour self-serve, street-side pantry in downtown White River Junction. Runners set up the boxes in a domino formation in the gym and invited the whole school to watch them fall at assembly. After the cheering went quiet, the team paraded the boxes down the street to deliver the goods.

Some teams ran laps around their school to raise funds for playground improvements. Others joined together to run in organized benefit races, and FOS paid runners’ race entry fees. Piermont Village School, Newbury Elementary School, Haverhill Cooperative Middle School, and Bradford Elementary School participated in Race to the Top of Bradford to raise funds for The Friends of Wright’s Mountain; Sharon Elementary School and Thetford Elementary School ran in “Take to the Trails” to benefit the Maple Leaf Children’s Center in Thetford; Barnard Academy participated in Race Around the Lake, a fundraiser for BarnArts Youth Programming; and Dothan Brook School, Ottauquechee School, and White River School ran in the “Hurricane Hustle” community building event.

Local fun runs and food drives are a bright spot in the Upper Valley as volunteerism declines and loneliness rises across the country. Research shows that community engagement helps youth to foster self-esteem and resilience; build a sense of purpose and belonging; and develop a sense of agency and pride. In a post-season survey of the 3rd through 8th grade runners, 87% said they were more excited to find other ways to contribute to their communities after participating in Finding Our Stride.

While each team selects its own fundraiser in the spring, the entire Finding Our Stride organization comes together each fall for the Dartmouth Health Children’s CHaD Hero Run. Last fall, 568 runners, coaches, and families ran with FOS and raised $74,000 for Dartmouth Health Children’s. In total, Finding Our Stride has raised more than $219,000 for Upper Valley nonprofits since 2016.