Sometimes it's hard to see the trees within the forest.

That's a perspective Amanda Feltenberger hopes to change with this Saturday's LHOT 5K in Butler.

Butler County has a homelessness problem, but our homeless are practically invisible. Amanda Feltenberger, Butler County Human Services Director of Service Integration and co-chair of Butler County's Local Housing Options Team, says that unlike larger cities where those without homes are visible sleeping on park benches or sitting on street corners, the homeless in Butler are hidden.

The homeless population in rural Butler County can be found living in tents in wooded areas, in trailers or sheds without utilities or couch-hopping — staying with friends for a few days before returning to life on the streets. There is a waiting list for housing assistance in the county.

Butler's Local Housing Options Team is a consortium of local government, charitable organizations, churches and individuals dedicated to providing for basic needs of the more than 1,200 estimated homeless in our area. Feltenberger has seen the homeless population increase threefold in the past five years and hopes that this Saturday's LHOT 5K will raise awareness and funds for the homeless in Butler.

LHOT 5K, now in its 10th year, will start at 9 a.m. at the Veteran's Hospital campus. This final event in LHOT's Homelessness Awareness Month is a gently rolling tour completely contained within the VA grounds.

Based on prior attendance, Feltenberger expects at least 60 to 70 participants for the 5K, including runners and walkers. She has run the race herself in previous years, but this year will be walking the distance while pushing a baby stroller.

The LHOT 5K is beginner-friendly and attracts a mix of competitive and recreational runners, walkers and families. There's also a kids' fun run following the longer distance event.

LHOT 5K offers competitive awards to the top three overall male and female finishers as well as top three in age groups from 7-11 through 70+ in five-year increments. All participants are eligible to win random drawing awards and may enjoy post race refreshments donated by local business sponsors.

Day-of-event sign-ups are welcome. Registration opens at 7:30 a.m. on Saturday. You can save yourself registration time by downloading and printing an application from www.smileymiles.com.

Proceeds from this year's LHOT 5K benefit the group's Winter Relief Center on Center Avenue in Butler. The Winter Relief Center opens in November and provides the homeless with a warm place to get out of the cold. During last winter, its third year of operation, the center served 84 individuals.

Amanda Feltenberger encourages everyone to come to Saturday's race, but to also help the homeless throughout the year by supporting the charities which are part of Local Housing Options Team. These include Center for Community Resources, Catholic Charities, Lighthouse, VOICE.

Monetary donations are appreciated to help with maintaining shelters and housing and to help purchase medications to fill the gap as people wait for governmental assistance. Donations of canned goods, cleaning supplies and paper products are also welcomed and will be accepted at the LHOT 5K this Saturday.

LHOT organizations need volunteers in various capacities throughout the year. One current need is for volunteers to staff the Winter Relief Center.

Those interested may call Dana Perkins at 724-290-2384. Those interested in other volunteer opportunities are encouraged to visit volunteer.butlerunitedway.org, part of a new Get Connected partnership with Butler County's United Way.

Saturday, 8 a.m.: Run Around the Square 5K and 1.5 Mile, Pittsburgh. Run through Regent Square neighborhood. 412-780-7802 or www.runaroundthesquare.comSaturday, 8 a.m.: Presque Isle Triathlon, Erie. Sprint length triathlon for individuals and teams. 814-450-9526 or patdavis1200@gmail.comSaturday, 8:30 a.m.: 6th Annual Cranberry Township 5K, Cranberry Township. 724-776-5746 or jercovich@yahoo.comSaturday, 8:30 a.m.: 16th Annual Cranberry Township Aquathlon, Cranberry Township. Staged in North Boundary Park. 724-774-5746 or jkercovich@yahoo.comSaturday, 9 a.m.: Local Housing Options Team Run for Shelter 5K, Butler. 724-287-4011 or dcunni@ccpgh.orgSept. 1, 9 a.m.: CTCC Labor Day 5K & 1 Mile Run, Cranberry Township. Run through Cranberry Park benefits Cranberry Township Community Chest. 724-772-2808 or mojorunningpittsburgh.comSept. 1, 9 a.m.: Gatorade/Steelers 5K Race, Fitness Run and Kids' Kick Off Run, Pittsburgh. 412-697-7713 or www.steelers.com/5kSept. 1, 9:15 a.m.: Buhl Day 5K, Hermitage. 724-981-3700Sept. 6, 8 a.m.: Montour Trail Half Marathon and 5K Run, Robinson Township. Mostly level on Montour Rail Trail. 412-445-5089 or www.montourtrail.orgSept. 6, 8 a.m.: Saxonburg Festival of the Arts 5K, Saxonburg. 724-898-2525 or mlkletzli@embarqmail.comSept. 6, 8:30 a.m.: Barber Beast on the Bay, Erie. 10-mile obstacle course challenge including sand, trails and more than 20 obstacles. 814-874-5802Sept. 7, 9 a.m.: FAAP Fall Classic 5K and 10K Race/walk, North Park. Cross country race on North Park trails, handmade awards. attorneymarkknapp@yahoo.comSept. 13, 10 a.m.: Superhero 5K and 1 Mile Kids' Fun Run, Butler. Dress like your favorite superhero for this run at Alameda Park. 814-319-7938 or jwalker0904@yahoo.comSept. 14, 7 a.m.: Erie Marathon and Half Marathon, Erie. Starts at Presque Isle Rotary Pavilion. 814-504-2631 or www.eriemarathon.orgSept. 20, 8 a.m.: Greensburg Half Marathon, 10K and 5K, Greensburg. 724-205-6450 or www.greensburghalf.comSept. 20, 8:30 a.m.: Mighty Moraine Man Triathlon Festival, Moraine State Park. Two day event with sprint, Olympic and Half Ironmen, Aqua Velo, Relay and Mighty Crazy races. 724-321-4265 or www.mightymoraineman.comSept. 20, 9 a.m.: The Pineapple Classic 5K Obstacle Race, Hartwood Acres. Hawaiian themed obstacle course run. 412-395-2883 or www.pineappleclassic5k.org/wpaSept. 20, 9 a.m.: United Way of Clarion 5K and 10K, Clarion. Cash prizes for top three overall. 814-226-8760 or uwclarion.orgSept. 20, 9 a.m.: Patrick J. Madden Memorial 5K, Slippery Rock. 724-504-6338 or www.patmadden5k.orgSept. 21, 9 a.m.: Stepping Forward for Down Syndrome 5K/1K Run/Walk, Butler. Starts at Alameda Park's Carousel Shelter. 724-290-5244 or nsequitesffds@gmail.com

Ice Cream Race 5K, Aug. 13 (finishers under 30:00): Jed Christiansen, 1st Overall M, 14:37; Daniel Jaskowak, 2nd Overall M, 15:22; Jaron Martin, 4th Overall M, 15:57; Ryan Budnik, 5th Overall M, 16:08; Kennedy Weisner, 1st Overall W, 17:33; Lindsey Snyder, 4th Overall W, 18:50; Andrew Maxwell, 1st 16-19 M, 16:16; Christopher Bloch, 1st 55-59 M, 19:15; Leslie Kramer, 1st 35-39 W, 19:35; Dean Rippee, 3rd 55-59 M, 19:48; Brant Collins, 2nd 50-54 M, 20:13; Caryn Gehrke, 1st 30-34 W, 20:20; John Armstrong, 3rd 45-49 M, 20:20; Kimberly Hohman, 2nd 35-39 W, 20:36; Tabitha Donaldson, 3rd 13-15 W, 21:06; Mike Brown, 3rd 60-64 M, 21:43; Gage Probst, 1st 8-9 M, 22:12; Kris Poloyac, 3rd 40-44 W, 22:13; Donna McClymonds, 1st 45-49 W, 22:49; Cael McEwen, 2nd 10-11 M, 23:02; Sarah Antal, 3rd 45-49 W, 23:37; Debbie Courtney, 3rd 50-54 W, 24:33; Sue Trinch, 1st 55-59 W, 25:10; Cindy Waltemire, 3rd 55-59 W, 25:52; Patricia Neubert, 2nd 60-64 W, 26:19; Lucy Hartle, 1st 6-7 W, 30:46; Colton Castel, 3rd 8-9 M, 31:45; Dezso Csizmadia, 2nd 75-79 M, 32:02; Gracie Hartle, 1st Under 6 W, 36:20; Cheryl Millham, 3rd 65-69 W, 35:33; Margretta Lutz, 1st 70+ W, 39:07; Ben Hoffman, 17:09; Brandon Wise, 17:25; Matthew Slaele, 17:34; Dillon McConnell, 17:39; Fred Thompson II, 17:47; Braydon Pyle, 17:52; Ben McKnight, 18:03; Jacob Hughes, 18:37; Adam Lowe, 18:43; Anthony Miller, 18:50; Ryan Myers, 19:05; Matt Sudak, 19:26; Bryce Ellenberger, 19:29; Brady Anderson, 19:38; Mason McKnight, 19:48; Noah Bowser, 19:48; Joe Joe Somore, 19:53; Evan Miller, 19:54; Jacob Kulp, 20:08; Mark Courtney, 20:13; Will Henry, 20:37; Grant Curdo, 20:39; Hunter Best, 20:56; Madison Hamilton, 20:58; Nathanael Nuss, 21:06; Jace Ebbitt, 21:06; Erin Jeuther, 21:06; Dylan Myers, 21:09; Matt Drohan, 21:16; Garrett Safran, 21:21; Clint Hartle, 21:23; Hannah Sanford, 21:36; Evyn Selden, 21:36; Olivia Lowe, 21:42; Eric Slagle, 21:44; Mandi Moxie, 21:44; Mia Muraca, 21:52; Wayne Biddle, 21:53; Trent Donaldson, 21:56; Donald Wallace, 22:01; Cloey Wallace, 22:06; John Ciafre, 22:12; Eliza Lowe, 22:21; Jennifer Shea, 22:34; Jake Cahall, 22:42; Kacee Caughey, 22:46; Wyatt Heyl, 22:47; Gordon Yoder, 23:04; Jill Mercer, 23:05; Dirk Shakley, 23:09; David Suber, 23:10; Jackie Shakley, 23:10; Michaela Schmid, 23:11; Brandon Fratto, 23:18; Vanessa Schwartzmill, 23:19; Eli Good, 23:23; Lindsey Fratto, 23:31; Jinny Hertweck, 23:33; Cory Gibson, 23:39; Hannah Knoll, 23:44; Ashlyn Hildebrand, 23:54; Rebecca Pennington, 23:54; Micaela Stover, 23:55; Heather Porter, 24:07; Kaila Hildecrand, 24:17; Mike Bruno, 24:32; Diane Sanford, 24:39; Brooke Schaefers, 24:41; Todd Courson, 24:46; Zachary Frazier, 24:46; Elijah McClymonds,24:46; Krista Snyder, 24:54; Jen Beachem, 24:56; Traci Hanna, 25:04; Stephanie Saylor, 25:09; Elizabeth A Morris, 25:15; George Ackerman, 25:21; Tammy Myers, 25:23; Steve Roitz 25:26; Lurena Stewart, 25:26; Kaitlyn Fleeger, 25:33; Taylor Maxell, 25:33; Rachel Hemmerlin, 25:38; Mindy Bish, 25:41; Ferdinando Saglio, 25:47; Amy Augustine, 25:49; Brooke Stahlman, 25:50; Cindy Suber, 25:57; Rebecca Woods, 25:58; Matthew Beilstein, 25:58; Karolyn Miller, 26:00; Eliza Drohan, 26:00; Gretchen Hefner, 26:08; Samantha Drohan, 26:08; Alexis Fennell, 26:12; Michael Waltemire, 26:16; Rob Pennington, 26:19; Ron Maraffi, 26:22; Evan Lowe, 26:32; Alayna Lowe, 26:32; Jerry Smith, 26:34; Kentin Codispot, 26:36; Mercedes Wallace, 26:36; Olivia White, 26:38; Cammie Messer, 26:40; Erica Lynn, 26:42; Caleb M Bowers, 26:58; Robyn Stewart, 26:58; Tedd Nesbit, 27:00; Scott Grooms, 27:02; Jonathan Stewart, 27:21; Ashley Shea, 27:26; Dennis Shea, 27:27; David Voland, 27:32; Laurel Hemmerlin, 27:37; Connor Casteel, 27:52; Adam Sherman, 28:05; Joann Gordon, 28:08; Richard Beech, 28:11; Rachel Colburn, 28:14; Raquel Miller, 28:17; Rowena Lavador, 28:22; Madison Kelly, 28:23; Patti Doyle, 28:31; Amy Hoffman, 28:31; Megan Krimmel, 28:38; Ann Himes, 28:38; Megan Pudlo, 28:46; Janet Pudlo, 28:46; Laura Augustine, 28:50; Jim Stewart, 29:05; Emily Huff, 29:05; Anna Schmid, 29:10; Stephanie McCreary, 29:10; Danielle Wiles, 29:15; Justin Curry, 29:22; Stefanie Neff, 29:23; Becky Hinterlang, 29:24; Matt Hinterlang, 29:24; David Lockerman, 29:33; Jason Snyder, 29:37; David Voland, 29:42; Meghan Worsk, 29:44; Debra Kuminkoski, 29:52; Natalie Skerbetz, 29:53; Bev Lowe, 29:55; Bryce Lowe, 29:55; Jessica Browne, 30:00Send comments and suggestions: Patricia Neubert, 435 Cherry Valley Rd., Saxonburg, PA. 16056. Phone or fax 724-352-4395. Email bigp16@connecttime.netPat Neubert is a running columnist for the Butler Eagle