Little Sisters of the Poor: Nun Run

On October 18th, 2025, our Greater Communities team joined the Nun Run -- a charity 5K supporting the Little Sisters of the Poor in my hometown of Gallup. 

Greater Communities is our nonprofit that tells stories of goodness in action -- people and organizations quietly making the world better. Through storytelling, service, and partnerships, we shine a light on those who lift others up and remind us what community can be. 

The Little Sisters of the Poor embody that mission beautifully. Their work is simple but sacred. They care for the elderly with dignity, joy, and deep love. In a world that often forgets its elders, they remember them. 

More than half of nursing home residents no longer receive regular visitors; many spend their final years in quiet isolation. The Little Sisters' mission reminds us that no one deserves to be forgotten -- that compassion for the elderly isn't just charity, it's love in its purest form. 

A special thank you to Misty -- who has been one of my biggest cheerleaders since middle school -- for inviting us to be part of this beautiful event. I brought a few students from Lobo Catholic, and we woke up at 4:30 a.m. to make the drive and run together. The morning air was cold, the elevation high, and the sunrise painted the desert gold. 

For those who don't know, nuns live a life of prayer and contemplation, usually apart from the world, while sisters live and serve in it by teaching, nursing, and caring for others. So even though this was called the Nun Run, these women are actually sisters -- joyfully present in the world, pouring out love in motion, reminding us that holiness isn't hidden away. It's lived out loud.