Walkers and runners gathered on Main Street in downtown Baker City on Thursday morning, Nov. 25, 2021, for the annual Turkey Trot fundraiser for the Northeast Oregon Compassion Center.

BAKER CITY — Seasonably chilly temperatures just above freezing didn’t dissuade more than 300 people from gathering in downtown Baker City on Thanksgiving morning, Thursday, Nov. 25, to raise money and food to help local residents.

And run or walk 3.1 miles before they sat down to their own holiday feasts.

The 14th-annual Turkey Trot raised more than $5,000 and 1,600 pounds of food for the Northeast Oregon Compassion Center.

“There were at least 300 people that registered,” said Brian Vegter, who with his wife, Corrine, organizes the annual fundraiser. “It was fun to have it back in person again.”

Last year, due to the pandemic, competitors completed the course on their own schedule.

On the women’s side, winners were Kirsten Holden, Hailey Keller and Isabelle Gee.

Due to a clock problem, the runners’ times weren’t available.

In the men’s category, Justin Ash crossed the finish line first in a time of 17:25. He was followed by Quentin Jensen and Thaddeus Pepera.