Baltimore โคCyclists Pedal to Fight Hunger in 11th Annual Cranksgiving
BALTIMORE – Hundreds of cyclists took to theโค streets of Baltimoreโค today โfor the 11th annual Cranksgiving event,a โunique scavengerโ hunt on wheels aimed at collecting food donations for local foodโ assistance programs. Approximately 350 riders participated,โฃ racing between grocery stores to purchase specific items beforeโ competing teams could clear the shelves.
Organized by BikeMore, the event challenges participants โto gather a list of โคdesignated food items and โdeliver them to partner โคorganizations, the Franciscan Center and Moveable Feast.
“We’ve got about 350 riders today, andโ so they’ll go out โto different grocery stores, buy aโ bunch of food, and donate them to our food partners,” said Jed Weeks, executive director of BikeMore. “It’s really exciting – you literallyโค have to go to this โฃgrocery store to get these items, go to that grocery store to get those items, โand hopefully the 5 teams haven’t beaten you there andโ gotten everything out the aisle.”
Cranksgiving typically generates โsignificant donations, with riders historically collecting a couple thousand pounds of food.This year’s event is particularly crucial,โค as organizersโ report a dramatic increase in the need for food assistance.
“It’s been reallyโ touch and goโข over the last yearโ or so, right? Funds haven’t been coming in or threatened to not be coming in the way they used โคto,” Weeksโค explained.
Participating โcyclists echoed the urgency of the mission.”Because of some of the federal layoffs and maybe some of the changes in SNAP benefits, I think there may be a lot of families out there who take it for granted they’re gonna have a lovelyโ Thanksgiving dinner, and not everybody has that advantage andโข benefit,” said cyclistโ Ellen Sheridan.
The event underscores the growing food insecurity โfacing Baltimore residents and highlights the role of community initiatives in addressing the โchallenge.