Following up on its huge success the last four years, the Montclair Bikery’s 5th Annual Turkey Ride to collect turkeys for the Human Needs Food Pantry will take place on Sunday, November 19. Cyclists will meet at the Montclair Bikery at 145 Valley Road at 9 a.m. and ride a flat, 15-mile circuitous route to the Brookdale Shoprite on Broad Street, Bloomfield, where they will buy frozen turkeys, and deliver them (by bike) to the Human Needs Food Pantry in Montclair. The Human Needs Food Pantry will be distributing over 1,000 turkeys and all the fixings for a Thanksgiving feast to their clients the week of November 20.
Last year, over 200 cyclists rode through chilly temperatures and bought and donated 285 turkeys to the Human Needs Food Pantry, along with $11,000 in donations, which was then matched by Partners For Health, resulting in a $22,000 donation to the Pantry.
This year, the Montclair Bikery is hoping to have 300 cyclists and collect 400 turkeys for our neighbors in need. “We are grateful to the Montclair Bikery and all those who organize and participate in the annual Turkey Ride,” says Mike Bruno, the executive director of the Human Needs Food Pantry. “Last year our pantry gave out 1,000 turkeys to people in need in Montclair, Bloomfield and throughout Essex County. This year, we expect the need to be even greater as our numbers continue to increase. We thank each and every one of the charitable people who make this happen; the turkey ride truly exemplifies the spirit of ‘giving thanks’ for all we have by sharing with others who are less fortunate.”
“I would have never imagined when we did the first Montclair Bikery Turkey ride four years ago that it would have grown so big.” says Dave Adornato, the owner of Montclair Bikery and a Verona resident. “Every year we see more and more people embrace this great cause. It’s a fun way to give back to our community and I’m proud that the Montclair Bikery is a motivating force.”
Linda Sterling and Tami Furman, co-chairs and founders of this event, are excited to work on this and see the event grow each year. Sterling states “We are proud to support the Human Needs Food Pantry in its 35th year of serving the community. This is neighbors helping neighbors in need during Thanksgiving when we are grateful for the bounty of all we have. The Food Pantry is a much beloved organization in town, and is supported by so many individual donors, schools, houses of worship, and businesses in town. The need they serve continues to grow, and we will continue to do this ride until hunger no longer exists in our communities”.
Those who don’t want to bike can still help out the Human Needs Food Pantry by making a contribution for turkeys at the Montclair Bikery or by going to Partners for Health’s website www.partnersfdn.org/TURKEY who will match all monetary donations made between now and November 19. Checks dropped off at the Bikery should be made out to Partners for Health. “Funds raised during the Annual Turkey Ride help to address the persistent issue of hunger in our community, while incentivizing participants to be physically active. We are proud that our matching grants program has contributed to the success of this wonderful effort,” said Pam Scott, executive director, Partners for Health Foundation.
Interested participants can register online or in person at the store prior to the ride. Riders may also sign up the day of the ride. All riders must be 18 years or older and are asked to bring $20 to buy the turkey, which is being discounted by the Brookdale Shoprite. Cyclists may buy additional turkeys and these will be transported to the Pantry as well.
The Montclair Bikery is grateful for the following sponsors who are helping to underwrite the event: Amanti Vino, Athletic Genius, Bangz Salon and Wellness Spa, Berkshire Hathaway Home Services/Sharon Gill, Bloomfield College, Brookdale Shoprite, Clara Maass Medical Center, Corneal Associates of NJ, the DeSalvo Family/Fodera, Egan & Sons, JAG Physical Therapy, KIPP NJ, Montclair Kimberley Academy, Michael Aiduss Design, Notch Partners, Partners for Health, Sandler O’Neill & Partners, Saturn Wireless, SMART Integrative Massage Group, Temple Ner Tamid and Thomas Direct.
