AMERICUS – The Methodist Home in Americus presents the fourth-annual Home Run 5K to be held on Saturday, June2, in Americus. The run will begin at 6:30 a.m. at the First United Methodist Church. All of the money contributed will benefit the Americus Campus of the Methodist Home.

The race will be held in memory of a friend of the home, Jay Williams, who passed away in 2012.

There will also be a one mile fun run as well. Those wishing to participate can register by going on line to www.TheMethodistHome.org/events.

Rebecca Ferguson is the Race Chair and is heavily involved in the ministry of the Methodist Home. “I have worked for the Methodist Home for several years before I started volunteering to help coordinate this race, and have always appreciated the healing that happens for the girls there,” Ferguson said. “I have worked with youth who learned how to trust in others and trust themselves for the first time in their lives.” Ferguson went on to say that the mission of the Methodist Home is about restoring childhoods and giving the kids a chance to be normal children. “For me, the most special part of that is the way that childhood is also about learning to trust yourself, others and giving your best,” Ferguson said. “My fondest memories from that time involve seeing young ladies learning that they can achieve and accomplish something special, and then start to really actually work towards those goals.” Ferguson went on to say that she loves to be a part of this race because it gives the girls a sense that the community is surrounding them with love. According to Ferguson, this event really helps them feel connected to the community, and it lets them know that they are not alone and that there are many people who care about them. Both the runners and businesses support this race.

Both Ferguson and Judy Tott, President of the Americus Auxiliary, are thrilled and honored by the generous support of the community at their annual Home Run 5K. The race was started with the goals of honoring Jay Williams, and raising support and awareness for the Methodist Home for Children and Youth.

According to Ferguson and Tott, last year, the event raised over $12,000 in proceeds! They are hoping to grow this event and they need more support. They are asking the community to partner with them and consider a sponsorship option. A Premiere Sponsorship is $1,500 or more. Those who choose this level of sponsorship will receive a large logo to be put on a t-shirt, a poster, a sign at registration, and a radio and web mention. They will also receive their name on signs along the race route and two free race entries. The sponsorship needs to be submitted by Tuesday, May 1, 2018. The Gold Sponsorship is $500 or more. Those who choose this sponsorship will receive a small logo on a t-shirt, a poster and radio and web mention. They will also have their name on signs along the race route and two free race entries. This sponsorship must also be submitted by Tuesday, May 1, 2018.

The next sponsorship level is the Silver Sponsorship. This one is $200. Those who choose this level of sponsorship will receive their company name on a t-shirt and poster. The will have their name on signs along the race route, but will only get one free race entry.

Then there is a friend sponsorship, which can be any dollar amount.

Both Ferguson and Tott want to remind the community that because of this event, in the last year, the girls in Americus have had many opportunities, including a trip to the Stone Mountain Snow Day. They have held Christmas and birthday parties, and have had access to participate in band and tutoring services. They have gone on outings and family dinners and received special gifts for their academic achievements. According to Tott. The girls, ages 12 to 18, who are accepted into this home have been in state custody and come through the Department of Family and Children Services (DFACS). They have various psychological problems. Tott also went on to say that every penny from the Home Run 5K goes to the Methodist Home here in Americus. “It goes directly to the Methodist Home here in Americus. Sometimes people give to the Methodist Home, and the money goes to Macon. That’s where our main campus is,” Tott said. “They were established there in 1872 to serve orphans after the Civil War, so we’ve been in ministry for a long time. The campus in Americus was opened in 1994. I was the director there for 17 years. Rebecca worked for me at one time.”

Tott went on to say that when DFACS takes a child from their family, they try to place them with a relative. If the child’s behavior is such that it doesn’t work, then they are placed in a family foster home. If the family foster home doesn’t work, then it is deemed that their behavior is not conducive to being in a family setting. At that point, they can be referred to a therapeutic group home. “That’s what we are: a therapeutic group home,” Tott said. “The girls have to have some sort of a psychological diagnosis. They can’t just be placed here just because they were in trouble in school. They have to have a diagnosis such as Post Traumatic Stress Disorder, Bipolar, things like that.”

Tott went on to say that the Methodist Home provides the love and care. “God tells us that our job is to plant seeds,” Tott said. “We’re not responsible for what happens. Many times, people in these jobs get very discouraged. We think that because we love them and care for them that it’s going to make all the difference in the world. That doesn’t always happen, but we are seed planters. We plant seeds, and we leave it up to God to do the work that He can do to turn those lives around.”

Preregistration for the one-mile fun run is $10 and $15 on race day. Preregistration for the Home Run 5K is $20 and $25 on race day. For those who want to run as a team, preregistration is $15 and $20 on race day. Those with teams of more than four people, it is price per person.