One of Norwell’s favorite autumn traditions takes place the Sunday before Thanksgiving, when hundreds of runners, walkers, and families gather for the Norwell Middle School Turkey Trot. What began as a small community race has grown into a signature town event that combines fitness, fun, and school spirit.
The idea of hosting a Turkey Trot in Norwell isn’t new. The Norwell Women’s Club first organized one in the early 2000s. In 2021, Kristen Jervey, then a Norwell Middle School parent, decided to bring it back as a fundraiser to benefit the school.
Prior to the Turkey Trot, “the primary Norwell Middle School fundraiser was soup and cookie dough. I wanted to create a fundraiser that had a community feel where both students and the community could come together to support the schools and make it a fun day for all,” said Jervey.
When NMS hosted its first race, it was a smaller event. Last year, that number grew to more than 600. Today, the race is organized by Veronica Carney and Lorenda Layne, co-presidents of the middle school’s Parent Teacher Organization (PTO), who continue to build on the foundation past parents created.
The scale of the event means that work starts almost immediately after the last runner crosses the finish line. “Planning for next year starts almost right after the race is over,” Carney said. “That's the easiest time to sit down and talk about what went well and what didn't go well, and what we should do for next year.”
Planning includes everything from reserving the high school grounds to coordinating with the Norwell Police Department for traffic and parking control, advice that organizers say is critical for safety. Volunteers, including high school and middle school students, parents, faculty, staff, and community members, are critical to the event's success.
The organizers also work with RaceWire, which handles bib timing and registration, giving the community race a professional edge.
“RaceWire helps brings a ‘big race’ feel to the event. They bring the finish line blow up arch and provide the chipped racing bibs that allow participants to track their times,” said Carney.
Behind the scenes, volunteers manage sponsorship outreach, marketing, and logistics. Volunteers coordinate local business partnerships, organize student T-shirt design contests, and handle hundreds of registration details.
“One of the things I like about RaceWire is that they take our student-drawn logo and put that on our bibs,” Layne said. “It makes the race feel even more special.”
The Turkey Trot is the PTO’s largest fundraiser of the year, with proceeds supporting teacher grants, classroom materials, and student events.
“Anything above what we had to pay for the event goes right to the middle school PTO account,” Carney said. “We use it to pay teacher grants, scholarships for the 8th grade trip to Washington DC, buses for field trips, guest speakers, and other requests from teachers.”
Both Carney and Layne are passionate about supporting the educators and staff at NMS.
“Middle school is a really challenging time for kids developmentally, and it [can be] a challenging age to teach. Our teachers really have a big passion for teaching these kids,” said Layne.
Carney elaborated, “Some people have asked why the PTO focuses on teacher appreciation.” For her the answer is simple. “These teachers are in the schools with our kids every day and working hard. Something that gives them a smile is definitely going to uplift the environment. Also, when we're showing our kids also that we appreciate our teachers and we're thanking them, that's teaching our students gratitude.”
Beyond the fundraising, the event builds pride and connection throughout the town. Students, parents, and even teachers participate, many dressed in Norwell blue and gold or turkey-themed costumes.
“My favorite part of the race last year was just the smiles and so many kids running,” Carney said. “Everyone was dressed up, running with their kids, running with their parents, and just having so much fun.”
Layne said the collaboration across departments and volunteers is what makes the day so meaningful. “It really does bring people together who don't normally come face to face together on a nice, crisp, fall morning.”
Local businesses who want to support the race, sponsorships are open until November 1. You can email nmspto@gmail.com to learn more. Carney noted that sponsors are highlighted in many ways, including social media, the t-shirt, and more.
For those who want to walk or run the race, “Just sign up,” Carney said. “Even if you don’t run, it’s a donation to the middle school.” Race registration is open online until November 19 and day of registration is available, as well. You can learn more about the race and register here.
Volunteers, of course, are always welcome, too.
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