• The Capital City Kiwanis Club hosted its 41st annual Firecracker 5k run with proceeds benefiting the community.
• The money raised will be used to purchase school supplies for students in our neighborhoods and to fund other charitable events.
• Watch the video to learn how the fundraiser is helping families face rising school costs.

TRANSCRIPT OF THE MISSION:

As inflation drives up the cost of education, neighbors in southeast Tallahassee are taking steps to help, literally. I'm Kenya Cardonne, your neighborhood reporter. I'm finding out how a July race is expected to help kids this fall.

Leonardo Canete, runner – “I enjoy this career, the money I earn helps with the school program.”

Neighbor Leonardo Canete, one of the 500 runners in the Firecracker 5k, tells me it makes him happy to participate in a race that raises money for our schools.

The event at Cascades Park was organized by the Capital City Kiwanis Club, an organization that brings the heart and pride of community service to student clubs in our neighborhood schools, such as the Key Club, Builders Club and K-Kids Club.

Club president Jim Ledbetter told me their goal was to raise $12,000.

Jim Ledbetter, President of the Capital City Kiwanis Club – “The money we raise benefits our Title 1 schools, which are also some of the schools we support through our service leadership programs.”

Organizers say the help is especially needed as families prepare for the upcoming school year and face inflation in the cost of education and materials.

According to a report by JLL, parents across the country plan to spend 21.8% more on school supplies this year.

Community fundraisers like this help ease the tension.

Anagha Mundrathi, Rickards High School graduate – “One person doesn’t carry a big burden. It’s more of a collective effort.”

Organizers say the money will help provide students at these clubs with school supplies, hygiene products and clothing.

It will also fund scholarships for graduating students from Godby, Rickards and Lincoln High School this school year.

Ledbetter – “It’s a big cycle. The more money we raise, the more events we can do, the more service projects we can do, and the more good we can do in the community.”

And most importantly, it funds their mission to teach students how to give back to their community.

Yolanda Barnes, a teacher at Ruediger Elementary School: “This teaches them that it is more blessed to give than to receive, and they feel the pride of knowing that they have made a difference and helped someone.”

Ledbetter: “We see that the rising generations are very yearning for the opportunity to learn how to help others in their community, not just in their school, but in their larger community – their neighborhood.”

This is the Kiwanis Club's 41st annual Firecracker 5k run, with proceeds benefiting the community.

Southeast of Tallahassee, Kenya Cardonne, ABC 27