Venerable Thanksgiving Day Road Race Raises Record $40,000 to Support Hunger Relief, Homeless Services, and Community Recovery
Troy, N.Y. (Jan. 6, 2026) — In a landmark year for one of the nation’s oldest road races, the 78th Troy Turkey Trot, held last Thanksgiving, raised $40,000 in charitable donations - the highest total in the event’s 109-year history and the most ever raised through the Turkey Trot.
Proceeds from the 2025 Troy Turkey Trot will support the Regional Food Bank, Joseph’s House & Shelter, and Unity House of Troy, advancing the event’s longstanding mission to strengthen the community by addressing hunger, homelessness, and essential human services. Support for Unity House follows a recent fire that destroyed its administrative office building on 102nd Street this past weekend.
Checks were presented during a ceremony at Troy City Hall attended by Mayor Carmella R. Mantello; Tom Nardacci, CEO of the Regional Food Bank; Amy LaFountain, executive director of Joseph’s House & Shelter; representatives of Unity House of Troy; and Event Director Josh Merlis.
“This year’s Troy Turkey Trot didn’t just continue a tradition - it shattered expectations,” said Mayor Mantello. “Raising a record-breaking $40,000 shows the incredible generosity of our community. Supporting organizations that address hunger, homelessness, and critical community services reflects Troy’s commitment to taking care of one another, especially when challenges arise.”
The record-setting total was fueled by voluntary contributions from 7,484 registered runners and walkers, which is the highest participation in more than a decade - along with increased direct event contributions and support from the Pioneer Foundation.
“The Troy Turkey Trot has always been about giving back,” said Merlis. “This year’s record-breaking support highlights what’s possible when a community comes together around shared values and a shared purpose.”
The Regional Food Bank, Joseph’s House & Shelter, and Unity House of Troy each play vital roles in serving residents across Troy and the Capital Region - from providing food and shelter to delivering housing, counseling, and family support services. Proceeds from the 2025 event will help ensure these organizations can continue meeting growing community needs.
The donation comes at a critical time for the Regional Food Bank. “We are seeing unprecedented levels of need across our entire service area,” said Nardacci. “Serving more than 355,000 people each month across 23 counties, this record-breaking support is essential as rising costs and SNAP challenges continue to drive food insecurity. We’re also proud to stand with Unity House as they recover.”
For Joseph’s House & Shelter, the funds will help sustain essential services as homelessness continues to rise. “The Troy Turkey Trot is more than a fundraiser - it’s a lifeline,” said LaFountain. “We serve nearly 3,000 people each year, including a growing number of families with children. This support helps ensure people experiencing homelessness have safe shelter and vital services, and knowing that our partner agency Unity House will also benefit in some way, highlights the spirit of the Troy Turkey Trot."
“We are deeply grateful to Mayor Mantello and everyone involved in the Troy Turkey Trot for welcoming Unity House into this incredible effort,” said Dave Bach, Executive Director of Unity House of Troy. “After the devastating fire that destroyed our Kathryn Allen Building on 102nd Street, this support and solidarity mean more than words can express. It is a powerful reminder that in Troy, we come together to lift one another up and help rebuild when our community faces hardship.”
The 78th Troy Turkey Trot welcomed participants from 40 states, Puerto Rico, Canada, Germany, Iran, and the Netherlands, and featured the 5K, the Capital Region’s only Thanksgiving Day 10K, Grade School Mile, and Turkey Walk.
The 2025 Troy Turkey Trot was made possible through the generous support of Pioneer, Wm. J. Fagan & Sons, Capital Region Honda Dealers, Choice Physical Therapy, Courtyard by Marriott Albany Troy/Waterfront, and Maria College.
For more information or to register for the 2026 Troy Turkey Trot, visit TroyTurkeyTrot.com.