Santiam Bicycle, Venti's Cafe to Host Cranksgiving Event

cranksgivingsalem.blogspot.com

(SALEM, Oregon) - Avid bicyclist Cory Heintz is partnering with Santiam Bicycle and Venti’s Café to organize what may be Salem’s first Cranksgiving food drive on Saturday, Nov. 13. The event will benefit Marion-Polk Food Share.

“It’s a good time for a good cause,” said Heintz, who first participated in a Cranksgiving ride when he lived in Des Moines, Iowa. Apparently, the event originated in New York City in 1999.

Heintz moved to Salem about three years ago and says sometimes people, including himself, “get into a funk believing you’re not making a difference.” When that happens, he said the remedy is to “do something to feel like you’re spending time wisely.”

The Salem Cranksgiving event will be an informal “Alleycat” race. Cyclists are asked to gather at Venti’s in downtown Salem, 325 Court St. NE, at 11 a.m. There each will be given a shopping list of specific items needed by the regional food bank. Each item must be purchased at a different store of the rider’s choosing, with the cost estimated at less than $20.

Using the MPFS “Top 10 Most Wanted Foods” as a guide, the shopping lists will be fashioned. That means such things as peanut butter, tuna, macaroni and cheese, chili, soup, pasta, tomato sauce, cereal, canned fruit and vegetables will be on the list, but Heintz said he will ask for particular varieties to make it more interesting.

Prizes will be given out for participation and for successfully completing the shopping spree, evidenced by the bounty and cash register receipts from 10 stores. Riders may want to scope out grocery stores in the greater downtown Salem area before heading to Venti’s.

In the end, everyone will get to hang out at Venti’s and share the good feeling of knowing that they have gotten exercise, experienced what it might be like to commute by bicycle, and helped needy people in their community.

For more information about the event, go to cranksgivingsalem.blogspot.com | www.marionpolkfoodshare.org