More Than 600 Runners Help Montgomery County Food Bank Set Outrun Hunger Fundraising Record
More than 600 runners and walkers turned a morning on the trails into meaningful help for Montgomery County families as the fifth annual Outrun Hunger raised a record amount for the Montgomery County Food Bank.
Presented by H-E-B, the June 13 event at Grand Central Park in Conroe generated enough support to provide hundreds of thousands of meals during the summer, a time when many families face added pressure as children are home from school and household grocery needs increase.
Clouds of color, cheering spectators and a packed field of participants filled the community as residents came together around a simple goal: helping ensure that local children, seniors, veterans and families have access to nutritious food.
Outrun Hunger Expands With New 8K Trail Run
The 2026 Outrun Hunger event introduced an 8K trail run alongside its returning 5K trail run and 1K color dash, giving both experienced runners and young families a way to participate.
After crossing the finish line, attendees gathered at the Party Pavilion for food trucks, a Kids’ Zone, yard games, music from a DJ and other family activities. The morning also included a performance of the National Anthem by the Chamber Choir from The Woodlands High School.
The mix of athletic competition, children’s activities and community service has helped Outrun Hunger grow into more than a traditional Montgomery County running event. It has become an annual gathering where residents can see how individual steps — and individual donations — can add up to wider support for neighbors.
“Five years in, Outrun Hunger keeps breaking its own records, and that says a lot about the support of this community,” said Scott Burns, president and CEO of Montgomery County Food Bank. “The funds raised through this event will help us meet the growing need for food assistance and provide essential, nourishing meals for Montgomery County neighbors this summer.”
Local Fundraisers Add to the Community Impact
Participants were also encouraged to raise money for the Montgomery County Food Bank before race day.
Nirav Desai was the event’s top individual fundraiser, collecting $1,001 for the organization. The KG Wellness Warriors earned recognition as the top fundraising team after raising $691.
Those contributions supported the broader mission of the Montgomery County Food Bank, a nonprofit hunger-relief organization that distributes nutritious food through a network of 100 partner agencies, local school districts and community partners.
The organization serves families, veterans, seniors and children who may not have reliable access to wholesome food. It also works with local retailers and wholesalers to recover donated and surplus products and direct them to people who can use them.
Sponsors Help Outrun Hunger Reach a New Milestone
The record-setting event was supported by businesses, health care organizations, educational institutions and community partners from across Montgomery County and the Greater Houston area.
H-E-B served as presenting sponsor. Enterprise Mobility and Waste Connections participated as platinum sponsors, while Expand Energy, Memorial Hermann The Woodlands Medical Center, Ovintiv and Scott Law Firm served as gold sponsors.
Silver sponsors included AmRisc Group, Astro Fence Company, Crown Cork & Seal, Ezee Fiber Internet, Houston Methodist The Woodlands Hospital, Lone Star College Montgomery, MidSouth Electric Co-Op & Fiber Internet, Stellar Bank and Whispering Pines Luxury Apartment Homes.
Additional support came from bronze sponsors 5Point Credit Union and Western Midstream. Grand Central Park served as venue sponsor, FASTSIGNS Conroe provided signage sponsorship and Hello Woodlands participated as media sponsor.
Montgomery County Food Bank also credited the volunteers and vendors who contributed their time and resources to make the fifth annual Outrun Hunger its most successful event to date.
Fighting Hunger Across Montgomery County
Montgomery County Food Bank is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization and an affiliate of Houston Food Bank. It is also a member of Feeding Texas and Feeding America.
From its headquarters at 1 Food for Life Way in Conroe, the organization works with volunteers, corporations, schools and nonprofit agencies to build a community where residents have dependable access to sufficient, nutritious food.
For Montgomery County residents, the success of Outrun Hunger offers a reminder that fighting food insecurity does not happen through one organization alone. It depends on runners, donors, volunteers, sponsors and neighbors choosing to move in the same direction.
Information about upcoming events, volunteer opportunities and hunger-relief programs is available on the organization’s website.
Stay tuned to My Neighborhood News for more updates on Montgomery County nonprofits, family events and community initiatives making a difference across Conroe, The Woodlands and surrounding communities.
Tiffany Krenek has been on the My Neighborhood News team since August 2021. She is passionate about curating and sharing content that enriches the lives of our readers in a personal, meaningful way. A loving mother and wife, Tiffany and her family live in the West Houston/Cypress region.