BY PEPPER FISHER
Sequim – CRANKSGIVING, the annual event that gives bicyclists and others a fun way to collect food donations for their local food bank, is coming to Port Angeles on Saturday, November 15, and in Sequim on Saturday, November 22.
In Sequim, where they’ve been doing it for 15 years, it’s one of the Food Bank’s biggest fundraisers. There are over 150 cities nationwide celebrating CRANKSGIVING and Sequim is one of the smallest. But organizers have set a lofty goal for participants: they want to collect 2,500 pounds of food for the Food Bank in one hour.
Event organizer Tom Coonelly says one of the best ways to participate is for cyclists to get their bike riding friends together and form a team.
“We gather a group of bikers together at the food bank, (this is the Sequim version now), and we give them a list of things that the food bank wants them to shop for and we turn them loose. And they have an hour to get from one supermarket to another. And in Sequim, there’s really only three; Walmart, QFC and Safeway, and back. When they come back, we weigh them in, and then we deliver the proceeds to the food bank.”
Prizes are awarded to the team and person that hauled in the most food, and the person who brings in the least food gets some kudos as well. Afterward, everyone goes to Rainshadow Coffee for a big after-party and raffle.
Participants should bring some cash to spend on groceries, along with backpacks, baskets, even bike trailers to load up during your ride.
Last year, 40 cyclists gathered and donated about 1,000 pounds of food and $3,800 in cash to the Sequim Food Bank. Over the past 14 years they’ve gathered 10 Tons of food and $27,000 to Sequim’s Food Bank.
Anyone with a bicycle can participate, from kids to seniors. Participants can bike, walk, hop, drive, skate or whatever to the Food Bank to participate.
In Sequim, it’s happening on Saturday, November 22 at 8:30am. The Port Angeles event is coming up this Saturday, November 15 at the Farmers Market at 11:00am.
Find out more at cranksgiving.org