New Braunfels residents can get their heart racing and support the homeless at the Westside Community Center's annual Zumbathon.

Residents can donate travel-size items for care bags throughout the month of October or during Zumbathon at the Westside Community Center, 2932 S. I-35, Oct. 19 from 10 a.m.-noon, according to a city news release.

“Laura Rosales has organized an amazing group of community Zumba instructors over the past two years,” said Jennifer Hernandez, outreach coordinator for the city of New Braunfels Outreach Coordinator. “She is an advocate for getting moving, making life changes and sharing her passion for Zumba with others. These instructors all have such fun personalities that they bring to the event, and each vary in their music selections and dance moves. It makes for quite a fun morning.”

Zumbathon participants, dubbed “Heroes for the Homeless," are encouraged to wear the costume of their favorite hero. DJ Jerry Sauceda will provide music, and Jennifer Lankford from the New Braunfels Food Bank will provide smoothies and nutrition education, the release said.

According to the release, Zumbathon participants must fill out a waiver the day of the event, and the cost of admission is the donation of one or more travel-sized items. Care bags for the homeless will be distributed by the Comal County Homeless Coalition on the third Thursday in January.

For more information about Zumbathon or other community center programs, contact the Westside Community Center at 830-221-4630.