Bikers gathered at Good Shepherd Food-Bank’s Auburn facility.

Bikers ride to feed Maine children

AUBURN – A donation of nearly $2,000 was given to Good Shepherd Food-Bank by the Christian Motorcycle Association and participants of this year’s fourth annual Ride Against Hunger on June 2.

In celebration of National Hunger Awareness Week, nearly 30 bikers gathered at L-A Harley Davidson on Main Street in Lewiston for registrations and mystery ride routes, with riders ending at Good Shepherd Food-Bank’s Auburn facility for refreshments, tours and door prize drawings.

Since Good Shepherd Food-Bank can provide more than $12.50 in food for every dollar donated, this contribution will provide more than $25,000 worth of food to Maine families through a network of 600 hunger relief agencies.

Summer school vacations pose challenges for the food bank and also to many partner agencies, which report more kids in soup kitchen lines and more families seeking assistance. Maine has more than 69,000 school children who qualify to receive free or subsidized breakfast and lunch.

JoAn Chartier, public relations coordinator for the food bank, gave this illustration,

“If we were to put 69,000 kids in school buses and line them up nose to nose, they would stretch over 10 miles. Imagine how long the line if they were doubled up on motorcycles.”