Runner to Come Through Union During Trial Run to End Youth Homelessness

Union High School grad Jordon Connell will be running through Union Friday, Aug. 10, between 8-9 a.m. during a “trial run” for his “Run to End Youth Homelessness.”

The family of Connell ask that residents gather at the intersection of Highway 50 and Oak Street to show their support as he runs to St. Louis. The trial run began in Kansas City.

Connell, a 2007 graduate of UHS, plans to run from New York, N.Y., beginning Sept. 15 and end about 90 days, and 3,000 miles, later in Los Angeles, Calif.

His goal is to raise awareness about youth homelessness and help homeless youth find the shelter that they need.

During his run, Connell will be staying at shelters throughout the country.

He had worked with a mission program at a homeless shelter three years ago in Chicago, Ill., and began to consider how he could help. Connell moved to Kansas City and became involved in a similar shelter where he began to mentor homeless youth.

Connell partnered with National Safe Place. A runaway prevention program, to form Team 314, which is the organization behind Connell’s “Run to End Youth Homelessness.”

The Team 314 motto is “Our people must learn to devote themselves to doing what is good, in order to provide for urgent needs and not live unproductive lives,” which is a passage of the biblical verse Titus 3:14.

Connell has said the awareness project also could have a far-reaching impact in the Union area, including a center for rural homeless children and teens.

To donate, or for more information about Team 314 or the Run to End Youth Homelessness, people may visit www.team314.org, or go to the team’s Facebook page.