On May 24, 2020, the HP Cousins – six cousins ranging in age from 13 years old to four years old– participated in their own socially distant charity 5K race in Highland Park to raise money for HP Gives a Hoot, whose food-providing services are so much in demand right now because of the COVID-19 Pandemic. The cousins are seeking five dollar per cousin sponsorships. The Highland Park Planet agreed to be the producing corporate sponsor contributing $108 toward the cause and helping to publicize the effort.
The racers – Lily Solomon, Harry Solomon, Sam Solomon, Rubin Hersh, Ilana Hersh, and Phillip Hersh – were accompanied by three parents and one grandparent. They ran, walked and biked 3.1 miles on a route that was drawn up by 11-year old Rubin Hersh and his mother Christine Hersh. The cousins are looking forward to raising enough money to provide dozens of free lunches and all sorts of groceries to those adversely affected by this pandemic. The cousins and their grandmother started planning this effort four weeks ago.
HP Gives a Hoot is a nonprofit fund created by the Borough of Highland Park to contribute to the wellbeing of the community’s children in need. The fund provides lunches when school is not in session, free groceries to the Zone 6 Teen Center, scholarships to the Recreation Department’s Summer Camp and opportunities to encourage academic, social and community success.
Please contribute by sending a check to Highland Park Borough Hall, 221 South 5th Ave, Highland Park, NJ 08904. Checks should be made out to “Borough of Highland Park.” In the memo line, please write: HP Gives a Hoot – HP Cousins 5K.
Questions: phersh@highlandparkplanet.org
Rubin Hersh contributed content to this story.