Campus Kitchen’s Pumpkin Pieve-K raises money to alleviate food insecurity

The annual 5K brought students and community members together to support Campus Kitchen’s food relief efforts

Valentina Nunez • November 17, 2025

Several volunteers and participants wore turkey costumes during the 5K to fit the holiday theme.

Editors’ Note: Valentina Nunez is a member of Delta Society sorority

Washington and Lee’s Campus Kitchen collaborated with Delta Society sorority to host their annual Pumpkin Pieve-K fundraiser on Nov. 9.

Campus Kitchen is a primarily student-run organization at W&L that aims to provide hunger relief in Lexington and Rockbridge County. The 5K is part of Campus Kitchen’s annual Turkeypalooza, a series of events aimed at combating food insecurity.

Campus Kitchen Coordinator Ryan Brink, ’18, said that in past years about 60 to 70 people registered and 30 to 40 participated. But this year 170 signed up and 100 ran or walked. Brink estimated the 5K raised over $5,000 this year.

Brink said that the money raised will primarily support Campus Kitchen’s Mobile Food Pantry, which delivers fresh and nonperishable food to remote areas of Rockbridge County. In partnership with the Rockbridge Area Relief Association, the program expands access to families with limited transportation.

Campus Kitchen leader Gibson Ward, ’27, said the event introduced a race fee for the first time this year. In past years, participants were encouraged to donate $10. Those who don’t want to run can donate a turkey instead. Ward said that Campus Kitchen also changed the race route from back campus to on campus, starting on Canaan Green, to make it more visible and less confusing for runners.

Ward said that they brought in a race monitor to make the 5K feel more official and appealing. He said the event was revamped in order to raise more money since Campus Kitchen’s services are expanding, new clients are joining and food costs are increasing.

Brink said that Delta Society’s partnership was helpful when organizing the 5K.

Delta Society sorority collaborated with Campus Kitchen to host the annual Pieve-K fundraiser.

“They were really critical in helping to organize some of the advertising, including tabling for a few weeks beforehand, reaching out to their members, their friends, as well as being helpful on the day of,” he said. “They brought a lot of energy with the pie serving and race monitoring.”

Brink said that he thinks the 5K builds connection and awareness between students and the Rockbridge community.

“That’s really one of the things that Campus Kitchen tries to do, is be a little bit of that bridge,” he said. “We try to offer the opportunity for W&L students to connect with the local community and see parts of this wonderful area that they may not have otherwise.”

Brink said it’s very rewarding to organize events like the 5K every year.

“This is really critical food relief for our community members, for our neighbors,” he said. “Campus Kitchen, the mobile food pantry program, provides groceries for over 100 households each month. Our prepared meal deliveries are sending out in the neighborhood 300 meals per week, as well as our backpack program.”

The backpack program, started by Campus Kitchen in 2009, provides weekend bags of non-perishable food to over 650 local children who rely on free or reduced school meals.

Delta Society member Ava Nasse, ’27, said that it’s important for students to participate in events like the 5K.

“Students should be involved with the community around them. Especially because this university has so much impact on the local community, it’s really important that we give back,” she said.