St. Patrick Center hosting 11th annual Veterans Day 5K to combat veteran homelessness across St. Louis region

ST. LOUIS, Mo. (First Alert 4) - The St. Patrick Center is hosting its 11th annual Veterans Day 5K Run/Walk this Saturday, November 7th at Soldiers Memorial in Downtown St. Louis.

The annual event serves as the organization’s second-largest fundraiser of the year, directly supporting housing, employment, and wellness initiatives for unhoused and at-risk veterans.

Chris Stephen, executive director of the St. Patrick Center, said the transition out of the military can often present unexpected hurdles for service members returning home.

“It’s a great opportunity for us to be able to honor and celebrate and thank the veterans who have done so much to serve our country,” Stephen said. “There are so many who struggle when they come back, get out of the service and come back into normal life who find that it’s difficult to make that adjustment. And some may find themselves unhoused.”

The St. Patrick Center serves as one of the largest providers for unhoused veterans across eastern Missouri and southern Illinois, covering the City of St. Louis and 11 surrounding counties. Last year, the nonprofit served approximately 1,800 people across the region—nearly 800 of whom were veterans.

Through donor contributions and community partnerships, the organization helped place 743 veterans and their families into permanent, secure housing and connected 89 veterans with sustainable employment last year alone.

Beyond emergency shelter and permanent housing placement, proceeds from the 5K help fund wrap-around services, including addiction recovery, mental health counseling, and life-skills reintegration.

“A big part of what we do and the services we provide is to help them get stable, find housing, provide other services that may have addiction or mental health support that they may require, but really to try and get them back integrated into life,” Stephen said.

Organizers expect around 900 participants this year. Saturday’s event kicks off at 9 a.m. and will feature a family-friendly Runners Village with music, games, snacks, giveaways, and a dedicated kids dash. Immediately following the race, participants and spectators can stay downtown for the annual St. Louis Veterans Day Parade and ceremony.

Community members who cannot attend in person can still support the mission through volunteer opportunities or online financial contributions.

To register for the race, volunteer, or make a direct donation, visit the St. Patrick Center Veterans Day 5K registration page.