Homer, Alaska - Local stories - Paddlers to help food pantry 12/10/08

Story last updated at 12:41 AM on Wednesday, December 10, 2008

Paddlers to help food pantry

By M. Jackinsky
Staff writer

It's hard to think of shiny choo-choo trains and huggable baby dolls when your next meal is uncertain.

Tom Pogson and his band of merry paddlers at Alaska Kayak School are taking that need seriously. A Race For Food, a slalom event for kayakers of all abilities, is scheduled for 8-10 p.m., Dec. 19, at the Kate Kuhns Aquatic Center and is aimed at stocking shelves at Homer Community Food Pantry. Entrance fee is $10, which will be waived for the donation of a minimum four food items. Grand prize is a brand new sea kayak paddle awarded for the most impressive food donation. Even spectators get a shot at the prize.

"Just bring the most impressive food donation. We're not limiting the grand prize to paddlers," Pogson said. "Whether you're on the sidelines or in the water, everybody is a participant."

Even those unable to attend can participate by sponsoring a kayaker.

All that doesn't mean, however, that the race will be easy. In fact, it's set up exactly the way kayak races are structured for the Olympics. The watery course consists of a series of gates through which kayakers must paddle with the goal of avoiding contact -- be it body, kayak or paddle -- with the slalom poles.

If any part of the kayaker or the kayaker's equipment touches the pole, a penalty results. Similarly, missing a gate doesn't disqualify a kayaker, but does result in a penalty.

"It's exactly like the Olympics," Pogson said, adding, "An awful lot of very successful Olympic competitors started as kids practicing in a system like this."

As proof of the race's potential for inspiring enthusiasm among kayakers, Pogson pointed to Homer High School graduate Lauren Bell. He described Bell as an on-again-off-again student of the Alaska Kayak School. In 2007, Bell participated in a similar event, a kayak race held at the Kate Kuhns Aquatic Center that raised more than $14,000 toward Homer resident Max Haggerty's double lung transplant surgery. Bitten by the kayaking bug, Bell has gone on to become a member of the Stanford University kayak team.

"She e-mailed yesterday and said she'd be here. She's so excited," Pogson said of Bell's plan to enter the Race For Food.

Novice kayakers also are invited to take part in the Race For Food.

"That's no problem," Pogson said. "We have some boats with very large cockpits if people are nervous and we'll talk people through the capsizing process."

There will be an instruction and warm-up time before the race, and all equipment will be provided. Participants are asked only to bring a swimsuit and the donation for the food pantry. Also available for use will be a sit-on-top kayak that is not only fun to paddle, but fast in the water. Since only one contestant goes through the course at a time, it will be available to anyone wanting to give it a try.

"Anyone uncomfortable getting in (the cockpit) can get on it and have a really good time," Pogson said.

In terms of participants' ages, Pogson suggested 10 is a good starting age as long as the kayaker is comfortable in the water.

Holidays are traditionally when people reach out to help others, but this year things are a bit tougher.

"There are more families, more single parents, and, honestly, more singles," said Diana Jeska, president of the Homer Community Food Pantry.

Currently, the pantry needs turkeys, hams, yams, potatoes, stuffing and eggs. Jeska also is aware that January, February and Marchare typically leaner.

"If people come in the pantry now and look at our shelves, from the time the Hickory gives us food until Christmas, it looks pretty good, but after that things dwindle because there's nothing coming in," she said, referring to the October donation from the USCGC Hickory's annual Halloween food drive.

Grants totaling $10,000 cover approximately one-third of the pantry's annual budget.

"All the rest is dependent on the community," said Jeska, adding her appreciation for the upcoming race. "It's fascinating that we have such a generous community. We really do. It sounds like (Pogson) is doing some fantastic work."

Community generosity goes a long way toward softening some harsh realities.

"People apologize for being here. Can you imagine that?" Jeska said of conversations with individuals needing the pantry's services. "I say don't worry about it. We've all been there."

Pogson recalled an experience traveling abroad when he lost his passport and found himself alone and with limited resources.

"In this day and age, as complicated as the world is, the smartest people end up on the street. It doesn't really matter who you are. It could be anybody," Pogson said.

For information about the Race For Food, contact Pogson at 235-2090 or e-mail alaskakayakschool@gmailcom.

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