School's out for summer, but not for Levi Felton.
The Superior senior is pacing his way through the details involved in creating a 5K run/walk -- the Osaugie Open Run for Hunger -- from scratch.
The Aug. 21 event will be a fundraiser and school project with picturesque views of the bay. All proceeds from the race are earmarked for the Salvation Army food shelf in Superior. Felton hopes to raise at least $1,000.
"It's a lot more work than I thought it would be," he said. "It's not impossible, but I'm glad I'm doing it in the summer when I have the time."
Although the food shelf recently received a share of 1,400 pounds of food collected during the Fourth of July parade, it's gone. Summer food drives are few and far between, yet the need remains steady, said Maj. Rosemary Mattson of the Salvation Army. In June, 675 families used the food shelf.
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"We see a lot of people in cars, a lot of people homeless," said Della Rader, secretary for the organization. "I had one family here that had kids. I went out and got a can opener for them because they didn't even have a can opener."
Senior projects are required for graduation at Superior High School. They run the gamut, from reports on a possible careers to learning a new skill to service projects.
The idea for Felton's fundraiser was pitched by Mike Matejka, a senior project coordinator at the high school. Once school let out in June, Felton turned his attention to creating the race.
Running was an easy event choice for the senior, one of three co-captains for this fall's cross-country team.
"Sometimes you have a lot on your mind, and if you can just go for a run, it's a really good escape," Felton said. "It's just a nice place to relax."
Turning concept into reality has taken a month and a half. Felton has filled out city forms and contacted the IRS to set up a separate bank account, complete with employee account numbers.
Employees?
"Me, myself and I," Felton joked.
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He set up a website, osaugieopen.webs.com, designed registration forms and put up posters around the city.
Once registrations start arriving, Felton will place a T-shirt order with a local vendor and look into setting up markers, timers and a PA system.
Felton said the real-world application is a change of pace from traditional class work.
"You're on your own. You've got to kind of figure things out for yourself, which can be rough, but you really get a better experience from it," he said.
Race-day registration begins at 8 a.m. Aug. 21, with the race starting at
9 a.m. The course is flat, beginning and ending near the entrance to Barker's Island. The entry fee is $15; T-shirts cost $10. Donations of nonperishable foods and money will be accepted at the event.
Advance registration forms are available at osaugieopen.webs.com, and must be mailed to race headquarters.
T-shirt orders will be taken only through Aug. 5; registrations will be accepted until the day of the race.
