Mayor Paula Dierenfeld’s goal is to raise enough in donations to amount to 2,000 miles.
JOHNSTON, Iowa — ‘Tis the season of giving, and a central Iowa mayor has a creative way of giving back to her community.
The Johnston Partnership food pantry said, typically, their service sees an increase in use in November and December. With the rising costs of groceries, they want to make sure they can stay fully stocked this winter.
That’s why Johnston Mayor Paula Dierenfeld has put out a challenge to her community for the last ten years, all with a pair of running shoes.
“I love to run. I’ve been a lifelong runner, I’ve been running ever since I was in my early 20s,” Dierenfeld said.
For the last nine years, Dierenfeld has run one mile for each bag of food or $10 Johnston residents donate to the local food shelf.
“We want to make sure that during the holiday season, in particular, everyone can …