Lettuce Run for the Friendly Fridge BX

🥬 The 4th Annual Lettuce Run for the Friendly Fridge BX – 2026
Please join the Van Cortlandt Track Club for our Fourth Annual Lettuce Run to raise funds for the Friendly Fridge BX. This Bronx-based organization's mission is to rescue and redirect more healthy food into its surrounding community through outreach, partnership, and action. The need remains great—and the opportunity to create lasting change is even greater.

Thanks to the incredible support of our community, the Friendly Fridge BX continues to grow and serve more people than ever. Together, we’re rescuing and redirecting over 70,000 pounds of prepared meals and fresh produce every month—and with your help, we have the opportunity to reach even more families and reduce even more waste.

This year’s race comes just a few days after Thanksgiving — the perfect time to turn our post-holiday energy into climate action. Every step we take helps fight food waste and reduce greenhouse gas emissions, transforming what would’ve gone to landfills into nutritious meals for our neighbors. So lace up, bring your friends, and join a little friendly competition for the planet! Expect great raffle prizes, music, and plenty of community spirit as we run for a cause that nourishes both people and the Earth.

 
🌱 Why We Run for the Friendly Fridge BX
Did you know that a single head of lettuce can take up to 25 years to decompose in a landfill—releasing harmful methane gas the entire time? Meanwhile, thousands of Bronx residents struggle with food insecurity. Food waste is both an environmental and social crisis—but the Friendly Fridge BX has proven that it can also be a powerful solution.

Since its founding, the Friendly Fridge BX has grown from a small sidewalk fridge plugged into a local restaurant to a community food hub powered by hundreds of volunteers, local businesses, and institutions. Every month, the Fridge rescues and redirects more than 70,000 pounds of healthy food—keeping it out of landfills and getting it to neighbors who need it most.

Every day, the Fridge supports:

• Working families trying to make ends meet
• Seniors on fixed incomes facing impossible grocery choices
• Anyone in need of healthy food—without judgment, stigma, or barriers

With your participation, we can help the Friendly Fridge BX expand its food rescue operations and reach even more people in our community.

 
🏃‍♀️ Event Details
This family-friendly event welcomes all abilities!

• 5K Run and 2K Walk
• Kids’ Race!
• Giveaways, raffle prizes, and community fun!

If you can’t join us in person, please consider donating—every dollar helps rescue more food from landfills and get it to neighbors who need it most.

Sponsorships are available:

Fruit Tier ($250)  

• Recognition on the Friendly Fridge Bx website  
• Logo on Friendly Fridge Food Hub sponsorship banner which will be hung alongside the current 
• Social media shout-out  
• Two complimentary race entries

Veggie Tier ($500)  

• All Fruit benefits  
• Logo featured on participant T-shirts  
• Four complimentary race entries 

Potato Tier ($1,000)

• All Veggie benefits  
• Dedicated social media post  
• Company name mentioned in press releases  
• Six complimentary race entries

Dessert Tier ($3,000)  

• All Potato benefits  
• Booth space at the event  
• Eight complimentary race entries

Main Course Tier ($5,000)  

• All Dessert benefits  
• Speaking opportunity at the event  
• Premium location on sponsorship signage  
• Ten complimentary race entries

Banquet Tier ($10,000) 

• All Dessert benefits
• Speaking opportunity at the event
• Twenty complimentary race entries 
   

Van Cortlandt Park Alliance
Van Cortlandt Track Club