There won’t be an Opportunity Enterprises team running in the Bank of America Chicago Marathon next month, but that didn’t stop the Valparaiso agency and about 800 volunteers from packing more than 45,000 bags for those who will be.
“We have a good relationship with Bank of America,” said Liz Metts, director of development for Opportunity Enterprise Inc., on why the volunteers spent Saturday morning packing coupons, ads, product samples, magazines and other items into plastic bags, each of which will be handed out to runners on race day, Oct. 11.
She said this was the 18th year of the packathon, which included volunteers of all ages.
“We have no trouble getting volunteers. It’s become a tradition,” Metts said.
Opportunity Enterprises serves children and adults with disabilities.
Katie Collignon joined members of the Valparaiso University women’s basketball team in helping out with the packing as “Beat It” by Michael Jackson and other music blared in the background.
“We came last night to set up the boxes and came back early today,” said Collignon, who said she has run the Boston Marathon, but wasn’t participating in the Chicago race.
For Abed Alnajjar, a member of the Valparaiso High School Key Club, this was his fourth year participating in the packathon.
“Speed is the key,” said Alnajjar as he put the filled bags into boxes and taped the boxes shut.
Hayley Gates, 12, and Elizabeth Leka, 13, both students at Benjamin Franklin Middle School, worked for a few hours, having to leave early to play a basketball game.
“I kept getting paper cuts,” said Leka, whose job was to put fliers in the bags.
Gates added the bandages that would help keep the runners from getting blisters.
Metts said the Opportunity Enterprises team
is planning to run in the Indy Monumental Marathon in November
Karen Caffarini is a freelance reporter for the Post-Tribune.
