MEDWAY — For Jonah Mathew, this summer’s Falmouth Road Race is about much more than setting a personal best. The rising Medway High School sophomore will be running to support the Medway Village Food Pantry, an organization where he has volunteered alongside his mother for the past two years.
A member of the Medway High School cross country team, Jonah said his passion for running took off after joining the program as a freshman. He credits head coach Mr. Nassif with encouraging him to challenge himself, train consistently, and pursue longer-distance races like the Falmouth Road Race.
After earning a varsity spot with a personal-best 5K time of 21:30 during his freshman season, Jonah has set an ambitious goal of breaking 19:30 this fall.
While his running continues to improve, Jonah says volunteering at the Medway Village Food Pantry has had an equally profound impact on his life. What first seemed like an overwhelming operation quickly revealed itself to be a well-organized effort powered by dedicated staff and volunteers committed to serving local families.
“I believe it’s important to do whatever you can to help communities that are in need,” Jonah said.
This year’s Falmouth Road Race fundraising efforts will help support the pantry’s move into a newly renovated location, allowing it to better serve the community for years to come.
Balancing school, cross country, and volunteer work, Jonah says his motivation extends beyond becoming a faster runner.
“Part of improving myself is also helping the broader community in any way that I can,” he said.
Jonah hopes other students will consider volunteering as well, calling it “an extremely transformative experience” and encouraging anyone with the time to give back to organizations like the Medway Village Food Pantry.
