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Hospitality House to Host Second Annual Memorial Day Color Blast 5K

Memorial Day, May 25, Hospitality House and Welcome Home Thriftique will host the second annual Color Blast 5K Run/Walk to raise funds, awareness and support for individuals and families in our community. The 5K will begin at 5 p.m. at the Boone Greenway Trail at Clawson-Burnley Park in Boone.

Submitted photo. 2014 Color Blast 5K
Submitted photo. 2014 Color Blast 5K

A color blast is an event that showers runners in an environmentally safe, cornstarch-based colored powder at certain locations along the trail. The main idea is to tie-dye each runner’s white event t-shirt by the end of the run.

Submitted photo.2014 Color Blast 5K
Submitted photo.2014 Color Blast 5K

The event welcomes competitive runners, casual runners, joggers, walkers, people with disabilities, families and all those who are willing to give back to their community. Sorry, no pets. A guide to the color blast is posted at www.welcomehomethriftique.org and will be included in the runner’s packet.

“Last year was such a success and we wanted to bring back the event,” says Brittany Johnson, NC Campus Compact AmeriCorps VISTA and project manager for Hospitality House. “The color blast is for everyone, not just serious runners. It gives all members of our community a chance to come out and enjoy running or walking through clouds of colors while supporting a great cause. Last year we had over 250 participants and raised over $8,000. This year we intend to break that record!”

Participants can expect a free photo booth with fun props; face painting, free samples of Menchie’s frozen yogurt, music, water and fruit. A “Fun Run” will be held at 6:30 p.m. for kids under 10 to run a lap on the dirt track through clouds of color. The cost is $5 and kids can sign up at the event with parental assistance.

Early registration for the 5K is $25 for adults and $10 for kids 12 and under. Early registration runs through May 7 and guarantees an event T-shirt.

Submitted photo.2014 Color Blast 5K
Submitted photo.2014 Color Blast 5K

Participants can register online at HospHouse.org.

On-site registration will begin at 4 p.m. and T-shirts will be first-come first-serve. On-site registration will be $30 for adults and $15 for kids 12 and under. Cash, check and credit cards will be accepted.
Mail-in early registration slips can be found at Welcome Home Thriftique, Hospitality House, Earth Fare, The Rock Sports Bar and Grill, Pepper’s, Appalachian Mountain Brewery, Town Tavern in Blowing Rock and 24/7 Gym at New Market Center. Those who pre-register can pick up their packets from May 21-23 from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. at Welcome Home Thriftique, 182 Boone Heights Drive in Boone across from Mint.

Food donation bins for canned goods, boxed goods and dry goods including coffee, sugar, tea and bread will be located at the picnic shelters beside the start and finish of the race.

Hospitality House serves those living in crisis, homelessness, and poverty in the seven-county region commonly referred to as the High County. With the poverty rate increasing to 31%, making Watauga County the 3rd highest in the state, their services are in great need.

Welcome Home Thriftique, a four-year project in collaboration with Hospitality House, Appalachian State University’s ACT (Appalachian and the Community Together) program and North Carolina Campus Compact, is a nonprofit retail shop with a purpose. All items sold in the store have been donated by the community and 100% of profits go to support the programs and services of Hospitality House. Merchandised items include art, furniture, antiques and collectibles, home goods, décor and name brand clothing.

Submitted photo.2014 Color Blast 5K
Submitted photo.2014 Color Blast 5K

Welcome Home Thriftique will serve as the classroom for a job skills training program, providing hands on training in a retail setting. This program is intended to give Hospitality House clients and Circles of the High Country participants the skills and confidence to enter the workforce and continue rebuilding a sustainable lifestyle. Proceeds from the Color Blast 5K will support the launch of the job skills and financial literacy training component of the project.

Organizers are still welcoming sponsors. For sponsorship opportunities or additional information please contact Johnson at Brittany@hosphouse.org.

To learn more about Welcome Home Thriftique, follow them on Instagram @WelcomeHomeThriftique; Twitter, @Thriftique182; Pinterest @Thriftique182 and Facebook at Facebook.com/WelcomeHomeThriftique.

To learn more about Hospitality House, visit them online at www.HospHouse.org, follow them on Twitter @HospHouseBoone or on Facebook at www.Facebook.com/HospHouse.