The inaugural Hamilton County Harvest Food Bank Ride ran into one major roadblock in 2019.
“We had about 10 riders last year. I didn’t realize we planned the ride for the same day as Motorcycles on Meridian,” said Greg McKenzie, one of the event’s organizers. “Our promotion was OK, but we didn’t capture many people for that very reason.”
There will be no such conflict when the second Hamilton County Harvest Food Bank Ride begins at 10:30 a.m. Aug. 8 at Harley-Davidson of Indianapolis, 12400 Reynolds Dr., Fishers. Registration starts at 9:30 a.m. Riders will visit food pantries in Cicero and Sheridan and the Harvest Food Bank in Noblesville. It ends with a meal at Harley-Davidson’s lot.
McKenzie said he is shooting for 50 riders.
“But I’d be happy if we had 30 riders,” McKenzie said. “I’ve been putting (out) feelers with different motorcycle groups.”
McKenzie said if he doesn’t have a ride captain, he will most likely lead the ride.
McKenzie, who lives in north Indianapolis, serves as a co-organizer with Bob Killmer and Mary Lou Finchum, Harvest Food Bank board president. McKenzie and Killmer both served on the Hamilton County Division of MIBOR, or Metropolitan Indianapolis Board of Realtors.
McKenzie, who has participated in several charity motorcycle rides, runs the Indiana Motorcycle Riders, which has more than 16,600 followers.
Killmer, a Noblesville resident, said the Harvest Food Bank serves 40 different organizations, including 28 food pantries, school systems for summer lunch programs and regular lunch programs during the school year.
“Our goal is to raise awareness on what a food bank does versus a food pantry,” Killmer said. “The food bank supplies the pantries and different organizations.”
Killmer, a Harvest Food Bank board member, said they are working with 4-H club participants who raise hogs and cows at fairs.
“We will bid on the meat, and that gets passed down to food pantries as well,” he said.
Killmer is in charge of the grilling for a meal at noon after the ride. Harley-Davidson is donating some of the meat.
Cost is $25 for a rider and $30 for a rider and passenger. For more, visit the Hamilton County Harvest Food Bank’s Facebook page.
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Source: Current