Originally Posted by
Traveler
Depends if you will be offering something to thru hikers or to all hikers. Best advice typically embraces offering refreshment to all given the difficulty identifying thru hikers from section hikers from day hikers and to avoid the issue of elitism from the event. Left over goods can be reused at home or brought to a shelter (check with the recipient shelter first as some may not be able to take perishable food or opened containers, etc) which extends the good will gesture to people away from home on vacation to people without a home not on vacation. Kind of a win/win there.