The St. James R-1 School District is hosting its 6th annual Tiger Trot on Nov. 28, the Saturday after Thanksgiving. The annual event raises funds to support the Gifts for Kids Project, a school district-led initiative that gives a gift to each one of St. James School District’s 1,600 students before they head home for winter break.

Superintendent Tim Webster said that the Gifts for Kids Project was started six years ago because school staff wanted to make sure every kid left for the holidays with a little Christmas cheer.

“We wanted to make sure that over Christmas break, kids had the opportunity to get some kind of gift, because we know not everybody’s as fortunate as some others might be,” Webster said.

Thanks to support from people across the St. James community, the fund has been able to do just that for six Christmases straight.

Webster credited the generosity of St. James residents with the program’s success.

“We’ve been tremendously blessed by our community in support with initiative. Every year we have been able to send the kids home with something,” Webster said.

The easy part is the giving. The hard part, Webster added, is finding a gift that is suitable for three-year-olds, high school seniors, and all ages in between.

“It’s difficult to find something to give to a kid that’s from the age of three, so you’re kind of limited in what you can do,” Webster said.

The school’s solution has been practical gift giving.

“We’ve kind of taken an approach of trying to make it a practical item that the kid can use,” Webster said.  The school has given winter caps, St. James Tigers-branded cups, and blankets.

Registration for the 5k run or walk and 10k run event is open all month long. Those interested in joining can also sign up on the day of the event. Race-day registration is from 7 a.m. until 8:45 a.m. at St. James Football Field, where the race will also begin.

There is a $30 registration for the 5k run. There is a $35 fee to register for the 10k run. Paid registration includes an event T-shirt and a chip-timed race. Timing for the race is being done by Waynesville-based race organizer Split-Second Timing.

Awards are offered for first-place male and female finishers in each age group for both the 5k and 10k races. Age groups for the event are: ages 5-12; age 20-29; 30-39; 40-49 and 50 or older.

The race will take runners from St. James  Football Field, the starting point for the race, across town, past the James Memorial Public Library, around Lake Scioto in the St. James Park and back.

The race will raise money for what Webster described as one of the greatest days of the school year for staff and kids alike.

“It’s one of the happiest days of the school year. It just makes my heart feel warm and fuzzy,” Webster said. “We dress up like some goobers, usually put some Christmas outfit on or something. It’s amazing how excited you can make kids with the simplest thing.”

Those interested in donating to the Gifts for Kids Project can do so by contacting communications@stjschools.org.