LAKEWOOD, Colo., Aug. 17, 2016 /PRNewswire/ -- Registration is now open for the highly anticipated Midland Strong 5K Run, an event inspired by the oil downturn that caused the loss of thousands of oil and gas jobs in the Midland-Odessa community. The run will take place on Saturday, September 24 at 7:30 a.m. and will be immediately followed by a community celebration, which will include snacks, music, prizes, a bouncy house, and activities for the entire family.

The whole community is invited to come and be part of this fun and inspirational event.  To register for the 5K, visit http://www.naturalgrocers.com/midland-strong-5k.  Early bird registration is open now through September 19^th.  Adults can sign up for $18, teens for $10 and kids under 10 are free!  All registration dollars will be donated directly to Midland Need to Read. 

What is Midland Strong?
The Midland Strong program is a 6 month-long series of fundraisers and community events coordinated by Natural Grocers to directly benefit local organizations that contribute to empowering, educating and connecting with the community.

The program was developed as a response to the recent oil downturn impacting jobs in the Permian Basin.

Midland Need to Read is a non-profit organization that seeks to empower and educate the community by offering adult literacy and G.E.D preparation programs. This organization directly contributes to helping those impacted by oil field layoffs to qualify for and secure new career opportunities, tying in perfectly to the goals of the Midland Strong campaign.

Additional Sponsors
In additional to Natural Grocers' commitment to coordinating and leading the Midland Strong 5K Run, several sponsors have committed funds that will directly benefit Midland Need Read.

Sponsoring organizations include Yoga Works, Four Seasons Health & Wellness, My Sol to Soul Nutrition, Midland YMCA, and Lacy J Pilates. Together, these sponsors have already raised a total of $1,100 in donations. With your registration dollars, we hope to reach our goal of raising $5,000!

About Natural Grocers by Vitamin Cottage
Natural Grocers by Vitamin Cottage, Inc. (NYSE: NGVC; NaturalGrocers.com) is a rapidly expanding specialty retailer of organic and natural groceries, body care and dietary supplements. The company offers a flexible, neighborhood-store format, affordable prices and free, science-based nutrition education programs to help customers make informed health and nutrition choices. Founded in Colorado in 1955, Natural Grocers has over 3,000 employees and operates 122 stores in 19 states.

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SOURCE Natural Grocers by Vitamin Cottage