06/09/2026
Chef’s kiss: Culinary race attire to raise money, awareness to fight food insecurity
Tuesday, June 2, 2026
Bellin Run participants will see what’s cooking June 13 when Zach Zdziarski tackles the 10K course wearing chef’s gear — all to raise money and awareness to fight food insecurity close to home. Here is Zach’s story, in his own words:
I’m currently a working college student, and while I may not have endless time or money to give, I still wanted to find a meaningful way to make a positive impact in the community. Running has become a major part of my life, so I decided to combine that passion with a cause that matters locally by running the Bellin 10K in a custom Peter’s Pantry apron and chef’s hat to help raise awareness for food insecurity in Manitowoc County.
Recently, the need for organizations like Peter’s Pantry has become even more visible. Rising living costs and fuel prices have caused more families to rely on local food pantry services. On top of that, the severe storm that moved through our area on May 17 caused widespread damage, including downed trees, power outages and food spoilage for many households that lost electricity. You can actually see some of the storm damage in the background of the chef’s gear photo.
Peter’s Pantry has continued working to support families throughout these challenges, and I wanted to use something I enjoy — running — as a small way to help bring attention to their mission.
If anyone feels inspired to support the cause, donations can be made directly to Peter’s Pantry in Manitowoc or through their website. More importantly, I’d also encourage people to look into supporting their own local food pantries and community organizations, especially during times when so many families are facing increased financial strain.
