2026 Grateful Gobbler 5K

THE 2026 GRATEFUL GOBBLER 5K

Big news for 2026. The Maclellan Shelter for Families on East 11th Street is transitioning to its new home, Provident Place, located on Old Lee Highway in Chattanooga.

The 27th Annual Grateful Gobbler 5K Walk/Run will take place on Thanksgiving morning, Thursday, November 26. Walkers will gather at Coolidge Park for festivities before the 8:00 a.m. start. 100% of the proceeds of the walk will benefit families experiencing homelessness.

Today, the Maclellan Shelter provides 52 beds for families experiencing homelessness. Thanks to a transformational partnership with the City of Chattanooga, which donated the former Airport Inn, Provident Place will expand that capacity to 134 beds, allowing us to serve nearly three times as many parents and children each night.

Beyond increasing capacity, Provident Place will offer comprehensive wrap-around services designed to help families achieve long-term stability. In addition to emergency shelter, nutritious meals, medical care, childcare, transportation, and job readiness training, families will receive individualized family coaching and ongoing support for up to one year after leaving Provident Place, helping them successfully transition into permanent housing and build brighter futures.

Renovations are expected to begin this fall, with Provident Place scheduled to open in late summer 2027. At that time, the Maclellan Shelter for Families will permanently close, and every family currently residing there will transition to Provident Place.

Until that transition is complete, every dollar raised through the Grateful Gobbler Walk will continue to provide safe shelter, compassionate care, and life-changing services for families at the Maclellan Shelter for Families. Tomorrow, those same dollars will help open the doors of Provident Place, where more families than ever before will find hope, healing, and a pathway home.

THE IMPACT OF YOUR PARTICIPATION AND SUPPORT

Since December 2014, thousands of men, women, and children have benefitted from the short term housing and programs at the Maclellan Shelter for Families.

From now through the month of November, Grateful Gobbler volunteers will be out in the community inviting you to make a difference for families experiencing homelessness. We hope you'll take a moment to find a way to get involved. Whether you register to participate, become a sponsor, or make a donation, 100% of all registration fees, sponsorships, and donations directly benefit homeless families.

As we prepare for our move to Provident Place, we're inviting everyone to make a $5 donation in support of families who are working toward stable housing. While our location is changing, our mission remains the same: providing safe shelter, essential resources, and a pathway to a brighter future.

Every gift, no matter the size, makes a meaningful impact. If you're able to give more, here are a few examples of what your generosity can provide:

• $25 – Cleaning supplies to help keep a family's living space safe and healthy
• $50 – Laundry supplies and other everyday household essentials
• $75 – Toiletries and personal care items for a family
• $150 – Helps stock the shelter pantry with essentials available to every family.

Whether you give $5 or $500, your generosity helps provide stability, dignity, and hope for families staying at Maclellan Shelter today and those who will soon call Provident Place home.

T-SHIRT PICK UP and PACKET PICKUP

You can have your t-shirt mailed to you or you can pick your packet up prior to the event.
DO NOT EXPECT DELIVERY BY THANKSGIVING IF YOU ARE ORDERING AFTER NOVEMBER 19TH. 

Packet Pickup

• Saturday, November 21 from 9am-3pm, location to be announced
• Wednesday, November 25 10am-6pm @ Coolidge Park, 150 River St, Chattanooga, TN
• Thursday, November 26 6:30am-8am @ Coolidge Park, 150 River St, Chattanooga, TN

If you chose to have your shirt mailed, our volunteers will be shipping orders the same day starting November 12 and will do our best to get them to you by Thanksgiving.

Thank you for your support!
Grateful Gobbler