ROBERT PIERCE

   • Leader & Times

The weather is finally becoming more spring and summer like, and more people can be seen outdoors enjoying the nice temperatures.

One of the places locals take advantage of the conditions is at Liberal’s Light Park, and May 2, the park will be host to Grace Place Pregnancy Care Center’s annual Run Baby Run fundraiser.

Registration will start at 8:30 a.m. that morning, and participants can choose from either the 5K or 1-mile events. Some awesome prizes will be available for this year, including:

• New shoes from Brown’s Shoe Fit for the first place winners

• $50 from Tractor Supply

• A gift basket from O’Hair Salon

• $35 from Luxe Beauty Bar

• $25 from Brick House Barbecue & Brew

• $25 from Little Ceasars

• A gift certificate from Big Bites.

Walking tacos will be given out following the run, and all participants will get a free T-shirt. Registration can be done at the race, and Grace Place Training Coordinator Maria Froese said an online registration is also available at www.graceplacepregnancycarecenter.com.

“If you get a group of six people, you get a discount,” she said. “It’s a fundraiser to support us. You can pre-register if you want, but you don’t have to. You can come at 8:30 and register in person if you like.”

The fee for the 1-mile walk is $10, and for the 5K, it is $20, but for a group of six, the cost is $50.

Froese said the event will provide fun for those who choose not to take part in the walking and running as well.

“They’re going to be doing balloon animals for kids too,” she said. “There’ll be some fun stuff. There’s also going to be a bouncy house this year.”

The Run Baby Run typically takes place at Grace Place itself, but with additions to the center recently and the need to accommodate more participants, Froese said Light Park was chosen as this year’s venue.

“We thought maybe more people will see it driving by,” she said. “We wanted more people to be involved. We’re trying to get more people to sign up. Last year, our attendance was a little bit lower, so we’re trying to get more. There’s going to be some fun.”

While the event is billed as a run, Froese said the paths picked for the courses can be walked as well. She added Grace Place officials have been trying to get into the community more, and Teen Coordinator Mirella Buchman has been doing this through youth classes at the center.

“She’s been trying to get more into the community,” Froese said. “We also have Spanish parenting classes on Tuesdays, pregnancy classes on Mondays. Both of those are in Spanish. On Thursday afternoons, we have an English parenting and pregnancy class as well,”

Froese said donations for teens will be the main focus of the funding received from this year’s Run Baby Run.

“They get points when they come in and do classes,” she said. “We need to get some more donations for them so they can earn stuff.”

Likewise, Froese said donations are needed in Grace Place’s boutique.

“I think that’s where most of that money will be going to,” she said. “We go through diapers and wipes. Those two things, we really need. We’re trying to more new baby clothes in. Some of the donations will go towards that as well.”

Though volunteers are a seemingly constant need, at this time, Froese said Grace Place has many volunteers in place, but more are always welcome.

“We can always use more advocates,” she said. “If anybody’s interested in that, give us a call. We’re doing good with volunteers. We have quite a few volunteers who are helping in the boutique right now. We’ve been really blessed.”

Froese said one advantage to being a volunteer is creating your own hours.

“We recommend they come in about four hours a week,” she said. “Also getting to know us, the friendships here, the staff, that’s a huge plus. We all love each other. Come in and hang out with us while getting to know the clients as well, building relationships with the clients.”

Periodically, Grace Place hosts car seat safety events, but Froese said at this time, none are on the schedule for the near future. An annual event on the Grace Place calendar, this year’s banquet, has been moved from September to August.

For more information abut the Run Baby Run, call Grace Place at 620-655-8050, or go by the center at 311 N. Grant Ave. in Liberal. Froese said she is excited for the upcoming event.

“I think it’s going to be a good turnout this year,” she said. “We’re hoping the weather’s going to be nice.”