Freedom Life Church will host its annual Freedom 5K and Fall Festival on Saturday, Oct. 17, promising to bring runners, families and the community together for a morning of fun and meaningful impact.

"Freedom Life Church definitely has a heart for the community, and we want to look for opportunities that we can bring people together and just have a good time, build relationships and give people a safe place where they can make memories and come together as a family," said Angie Dearolf, the church's communications director.

Beginning at 9 a.m., the 11th annual Freedom 5K will take participants on an out-and-back road course through Christiana, offering runners and walkers an opportunity to enjoy the community while supporting a cause that reaches far beyond the finish line. Certain roads on the course will be closed, and fire police will be present at the event to assist with runner safety.

The race will be held rain or shine, and proceeds will benefit All Things Possible and Project Rescue, two organizations working to combat human trafficking and bring hope, freedom, and restoration to those affected by exploitation. Timing and race results will be managed by Pretzel City Sports.

"We also want to think of how we can benefit beyond ourselves," Dearolf said. "Human trafficking is something that our church has been made aware of, and we want to have an impact. ... The 5K and Fall Festival is an opportunity to serve our community, as well as benefit some greater causes around the world."

Participants are encouraged to register early, with early bird registration ending Wednesday, Sept. 30. Online registration is available at http://www.freedom.life/freedom5k. The cost of registering includes a commemorative T-shirt, which is guaranteed for early bird registration. The remaining T-shirts will be handed out on a first-come, first-served basis.

Following the 5K awards presentation, families are invited to stay for the completely free Fall Festival from 10:30 a.m. to noon. Children especially will enjoy Trunk-or-Treat, inflatables, free concessions, a rock climbing wall, a hayride, a petting zoo and other activities. The festival portion is not rain or shine but will be held barring a downpour. Kids are invited to come to the festival in nonscary costumes. Dozens of food trucks will be in attendance at the event.

The morning will conclude with the Pie Auction at noon, raising additional funds for All Things Possible and Project Rescue. Community members can participate by donating a homemade pie, bidding on a pie, or both. One pie, featuring Freedom Life senior pastor Sam Masteller's face on it, sold for over $800 last year.

"I would say that the average cost of a pie last year was $100," Dearolf said. "People were very generous. We had all kinds of pies. We had gluten-free pies, we had fruit pies, we had pumpkin pies. ... It was just a lot of fun."

"The Freedom 5K and Fall Festival is an opportunity for people to come together, have fun, and make a difference," added coordinator Ann Michelle Esh. "We're also grateful to business partners who help cover our expenses so we can give more to the causes."

The window for sponsorships has closed, but the church still invites any individuals or organizations who are interested in donating to do so. A link to do so can be found on the aforementioned website.

The Freedom 5K has been held for 10 years. The Fall Festival is a recent add-on to the event in an effort to make the day more family-friendly. The 5K has raised over $80,000 to fight human trafficking in its relatively short existence.

Freedom Life Church is located at 789 Gap Newport Pike, Atglen. Sunday services are held at 8:30 and 10:30 a.m. To learn more, visit http://www.facebook.com/freedomlife.tv or http://www.freedom.life. Those with questions may call 610-593-5959.