Members of the Sayre, Pa.-based motorcycle club, Ride 4 the Cause, prepare to pack Thanksgiving dinner boxes on Saturday. The dinners are to be donated by the club to families in the Southern Tier of New York and the Valley area. (Photos by Wendy Post)
On the left, Sayre, Pa.-based motorcycle club Vice-President Darrell Riggs, and Dorothy Sager, on the right, present a Thanksgiving dinner box to Tioga Center, N.Y. resident Desiree Merrill-Varga, who is a single mom of a 15-year old and 5-year old. Behind them are other club members. The club, Ride 4 the Cause, packed the dinners on Saturday, with remaining boxes to be delivered on Monday.
Sayre, Pa.-based motorcycle club Vice-President Darrell Riggs assists Tioga Center, N.Y. resident Desiree Merrill-Varga with loading her Thanksgiving dinner box into her car. The club, Ride 4 the Cause, packed the dinners on Saturday, with remaining boxes to be delivered on Monday.
Riding 4 the Cause, a Sayre, Pa.-based non-profit group of motorcycle riders, is at it again as they lend those in need a helping hand during the holiday season. The not-for-profit club has been working to prepare approximately 30 Thanksgiving dinners to deliver to those in need, and spent the afternoon on Saturday preparing boxes for pickup and delivery.
According to the club’s President, Richard Kithcart, Jr., and Secretary Tony McClenny, they used money from their own pockets to fill the Thanksgiving dinner boxes, and also received donations from Tops in Owego, N.Y. and Sayre, Pa. to help round out the dinners, as well as Allstate in Owego.
Member James (Moe) Mosher worked with a local elementary school teacher from Owego, N.Y., Jennifer Potter, to get a list of family members who might need a little extra help this holiday season. They also received a referral from Jessica Belles for an additional family.
One family referred to the club arrived on Saturday to collect her dinner box. Desiree Merrill-Varga of Tioga Center, N.Y., who is a single mom of a 15-year old and 5-year old, was all smiles when she arrived at the packing location.
“This is so nice,” said Merrill-Varga, who was referred for a dinner box by Jessica Belles.
“When I found out I was referred by Jess Belles,” Merrill-Varga added, I couldn’t believe it. “She has a wonderful heart,” Merrill-Varga added.
Dorothy Sager, who was assisting on Saturday, also stated, “This is a good group of guys,” as club members handed Merrill-Varga her dinner box. “I’m happy to be a part of this,” Sager added.
The rest of the boxes, according to the club’s Vice-President, Darrell Riggs, were scheduled for delivery on Monday.
Each dinner box contains a turkey, Doritos, soda, corn, green beans, gravy, cherry pie, and other fixings. The turkeys alone, according to the club’s Road Captain, Richard Kithcart, Sr., are valued at $300. McClenny noted that the entire value of the boxes to be delivered to the families is around $500.
But the giving doesn’t stop there. The group is also doing a Toy Drive on Dec. 13 at Walmart in Sayre, Pa. to collect for families who just need a little support during what can be a stressful time of year. The group already has one family they will be purchasing for, and then a box will be set up in front of Walmart that day for donations.
To help fund their charitable causes, the club is also selling gun raffle tickets for a brand new 270 Remington, Monte Carlo Stock. To purchase a ticket, call (607) 425-9367 or (570) 867-2715. The proceeds from the raffle benefit the goodwill efforts of the club.
In fact, according to McClenny, they already have another effort coming up in December that will benefit the Dave Clark Foundation, a local organization that benefits individuals with disabilities.
The best part of all, is that the club members, with ages ranging from 26 to 64, give without expecting anything in return – the true spirit of the holidays.
Members participating in Saturday’s packing of boxes included Richard Kithcart, Jr., president; Darrell Riggs, vice-president; Tony McClenny, secretary; Richard Kithcart, Sr., road captain; Ken Graham, sergeant of arms; Chris Bass, enforcer; Mike Engle, lieutenant; Shawn Ringler; James Mosher; Matt Evans; Dave Miller; Tyler Ballien; and Rick West.
To view a video of the club packing the boxes, visit https://youtu.be/DQWVngyMv4E.
