The St. Katherine Drexel Conference of the Society of St. Vincent de Paul will hold its Annual Friends of the Poor® Walk/Run on October 4, 2025, at Jesus the Good Shepherd Catholic Church, 1601 W Mount Harmony Rd, to support Calvert County residents facing poverty. The 5K timed run, starting at 9 a.m., follows a fast, mostly flat course with some wooded trails on the church’s athletic field. A Kiddy-K fun run for children 10 and under, plus games, a fire department visit, door prizes, a 50/50 raffle, and auction items, will round out the family-friendly event.
Registration opens at 8:30 a.m., with awards for top male and female runners overall and in each age bracket. The event aims to raise $15,000 to expand aid for local families, with every dollar directly benefiting Calvert County residents. Unlike similar fundraisers, 100% of funds stay local, supporting an average of 630 people annually through the St. Katherine Drexel Conference, regardless of religion, race, or origin. Participants can register or donate at svdpcalvert.org.
The need is pressing. The Calvert County Family Network’s 2024 Community Needs Assessment reported a 29% rise in food-insecure children ineligible for free or reduced meals from 2021 to 2022. Nationally, the U.S. Census Bureau notes 43.1 million Americans, including 19.7% of children under 18, live in poverty—the highest recorded rate. Calvert County, despite its affluence, faces similar challenges, with economic downturns hitting families hard, particularly in areas like Lusby and North Beach where rent and utility costs strain budgets.
The Society of St. Vincent de Paul, an international Catholic lay organization with 800,000 members, drives this effort through person-to-person aid. In Calvert, the St. Katherine Drexel Conference provides direct support like utility assistance, food vouchers, and emergency aid, often collaborating with local pantries like the Southern Calvert Baptist Church Food Pantry. The Walk/Run raises both funds and awareness, spotlighting poverty in a county where median household income is $120,000 yet 6.5% of residents fall below the poverty line, per 2025 county data.
The event’s location in Owings, near Route 2, is accessible for Calvert’s 38,000 households. The church’s field, adjacent to Mount Harmony Elementary, offers a scenic, community-oriented setting. Past events have drawn over 200 participants, with local businesses sponsoring raffles and volunteers from groups like the Calvert County Sheriff’s Office ensuring safety. The Kiddy-K run engages young families, fostering community spirit in a county known for events like the Calvert County Fair.
Organizers seek sponsorships and donations to meet the $15,000 goal, which could fund, for example, 300 utility payments averaging $50 each, based on prior SVdP distributions. Calvert’s high cost of living—where a one-bedroom apartment averages $1,800 monthly—makes such aid critical. Residents can also support through volunteering, with details at svdpcalvert.org.
The Friends of the Poor® Walk/Run aligns with Calvert’s community-driven ethos, seen in initiatives like the Calvert County Department of Social Services’ emergency relief programs. By participating, locals directly impact neighbors, ensuring no one is turned away. For more information, contact the St. Katherine Drexel Conference via their website or call Jesus the Good Shepherd at 410-257-3810.
