PEMBERVILLE — A Gibsonburg teenager is combining two of his passions — community service and running —
for his Eagle Scout project.
The Pumpkin Run 5K and Gourd Walk/Run to benefit the Pemberville/Eastwood Area Community Food Pantry will
be held Oct. 25.
The walk/run, which is 1 mile, starts at 1:30 p.m. and the run is at 2 p.m. Both start at the fire hall,
104 E. Front St., and end at the legion hall on Memorial Drive.
Registration is from noon to 1:15 p.m. at the fire hall.
Holden Sondergeld said he came up with the project idea through his years as a scout with Troop 344 in
Pemberville.
He said a former scout in his troop for his Eagle Scout project helped with renovations at the food
pantry, which is located in Bethlehem Evangelical Lutheran Church.
The cost to participate is $10 if postmarked by Oct. 19 and $20 the day of the race.
Each participant must also bring a bag containing at least five non-perishable canned food items.
The first 250 registrants will receive a T-shirt.
Sondergeld, with the help of his grandmother and aunt, designed the shirts and hats, which will be
awarded to each winner in the 17 age groups.
The 16-year-old, who is a sophomore at Gibsonburg High School, said his troop is very active, which is
the main reason he travels from Gibsonburg to participate. The leaders are Matt Meyer and Terry
McKibben.
“We have a lot of early Eagle Scouts,” he said. “We’ve actually had a scout as young as 13 get his Eagle
Scout.”
His fellow scouts will man the water and fruit stations at the run/walk and his cross country colleagues
from Gibsonburg have pledged to run.
Sondergeld won’t be one of the runners, though.
“I can’t because I have to set it all up. I have to make sure the run goes well. I have to make sure
everything is ready for the race.”
If all goes as planned, Sondergeld hopes to receive his Eagle Scout award, which is the highest in Boy
Scouting, in November.
“It’s a first time thing so I don’t know how many people I’ll get. But I’ve got 20 registrations so far
and two from Louisville, Ky.,” he said on Friday.
Registration forms are available at bethlehempemberville.org.