More than 90 people gathered on Seattle’s statistically-most-likely-to-rain day of the year to ride bikes all around town buying food to donate to their neighbors.
Within hours of leaving Cal Anderson, riders in Seattle’s Seventh Cranksgiving had purchased and biked 1,132 pounds of food to Rainier Valley Food Bank (“RVFB”).
Huge thanks to everyone who came out Saturday (and extra big thanks to Eliseo Calixtro, who helped us organize this year’s event). With so much troubling national political news, it was great to see people bust their asses for their community. And from what I can tell from photos posted to #CranksgivingSEA, it seemed like folks had fun doing it (see some of them below).
Likely due to heavy rain in the morning before the ride (and me getting a later-than-usual start on promotions), turnout was a bit below 2015’s record turnout of 160 people on an unseasonably bright and sunny day. There’s no pre-registration or entry fee for Cranksgiving (your grocery bill is your fee), so turnout can balloon depending on weather. 90 people on a day threatening heavy rain is actually quite impressive, and year-round rainy weather biking is part of what Cranksgiving is all about.
As the organizer, I gave riders a list of items RVFB requested and a list of some of Seattle’s unique grocery stores and markets. People rode alone or in small teams to get as many items from as many different places as possible within the time allowed. You get one point for each item and place marked off the list (plus some photo challenges).
Riders donated their food at the food bank before heading up the street to the Royal Room for an after party and prizes from Peddler Brewing, Flying Lion Brewery, Free Range Cycles, Electric Lady, Detours Bags, Mountaineers Books and my amazing spouse Kelli.
Thanks to RVFB Associate Director Elise Cope for joining the after party Saturday to talk about the organization’s growing work load. Unfortunately, their building is bursting at the seams as demand for their services continues to grow every year. Cranksgiving has become one of their biggest food drives of the years, but the growing need goes much deeper than any bike ride can cover.
That’s another part of the Cranksgiving mission: Engage more people in their community’s food security needs. Bikes are a powerful and fun way to bring people together. At the after party, I challenged attendees to come up with more ideas for ways bikes can help organize people around food security and other social issues. I extend that challenge to you, dear readers.
Started on the East Coast, Cranksgiving now happens in cities all across the US (and into Canada). The original organizers encourage other communities to run with the idea in their own communities, and they even have a handy guide to get you started. Seattle Bike Blog hosts Seattle’s annual event.
Locally, Cranksgiving happened over the weekend in Seattle, Port Townsend and Sequim.
But it’s not too late to get in the Cranksgiving spirit in the Puget Sound region! There are two Cranksgiving events in Tacoma Saturday: Cranksgiving Junior for families with kids (hosted by Kidical Mass Tacoma) and the Cranksgiving Tacoma Alley Cat (hosted by 2nd Cycle).
Below are some of the year’s photos posted to social media. But first, Russ and Laura from the Path Less Pedaled were in town and swung by to see the start of the ride and shot this short video:
#CranksgivingSEA is off! Go go go, donate donate donate! WTG with another awesome event, @seabikeblog ! pic.twitter.com/qBTSvlJSRu
— Madi Carlson (@familyride) November 19, 2016
Had yet another great #CranksgivingSEA! https://t.co/1HRQZRQMLq pic.twitter.com/UWI28hVQnI
— Mika (@epimika) November 20, 2016
#CranksgivingSEA pic.twitter.com/e9F2KvxmE2
— Betsy Voelker (@betsy_voelker) November 19, 2016
Delivery to Rainier Valley Food Bank. #CranksgivingSEA pic.twitter.com/RnobNDg9xf
— EZ BDay Crank (@EZBDayCrank) November 19, 2016
Fulfilling all the #cranksgivingsea photo checklist to dos. Lake union is so refreshing in the fall ?
#epacc #cranksgivingsea hit the market
Comments
One response to “Happy Cranksgiving! Riders bike 1,132 pounds of food to Rainier Valley Food Bank”
Scheduling goof-up – had to miss the best event of the year! See you next year – I’m putting it on my calendar NOW!!