Annual Hog Jog raises funds for House of Blessing

Rob Ross, Jun 4, 2025 8:30 AM

From kids’ sprints to long-distance runs, this year’s all-ages Hog Jog promises fun and purpose as it raises money for vital upgrades at Stratford’s House of Blessing Food Bank.

It’s off to the races for the 18th annual Hog Jog event taking place on Wednesday, June 18, staged during the Ontario Pork Congress. Since 2005, the Ontario Pork Industry Council (OPIC) has donated over $700,000 to local charities, with this year’s Hog Jog being in support of Stratford House of Blessing Food Bank.

Aaron Balzer, resource coordinator at House of Blessing, said events like this really help support the organization.

“Ultimately, it means that we can continue to operate,” Balzer said. “The vast majority of our funding comes from donations and funds from the community, so when it’s an organization or a cause, like Hog Jog, it means it means we can do things that we may not be able to do right a lot of the time as our regular donations go to our operational funds and to keeping lights on and the food bank shelves full.”

The Hog Jog event will help generate money to support the House of Blessing by increasing capacity for the community.

“What’s happening with the funds from Hog Jog is turning our van into a refrigerated vehicle,” Balzer said. So this event is allowing us to do these sorts of extra projects that increase our capacities for accepting and transporting perishable food, which we might not have been able to do if we hadn’t had the Hog Jog. It allows us to expand our ability to serve the community.”

The event, which will take place starting at 6 p.m., will be held at the Stratford Rotary Complex. The jog averages roughly 500 participants per year , and Balzar said the event is an all-ages event with different courses for each age group.

“There are three different events,” Balzer said. “There is the Weaner Run for kids six and under, and then there is a three-and-a-half-kilometre walk, and a 10-kilometre run. Following the races, there will be a delicious pork meal put on by OPIC.”

For over 40 years, Stratford House of Blessing has been working to provide support and food for those who are facing food insecurity in the community.