The family-friendly, wheel-powered food-raiser called Cranksgiving will take place in Sequim and Port Townsend this weekend.
Sequim
Organizers of the 2016 Cranksgiving are inviting community members to join in on the annual event, this year set for 9 a.m. Saturday.
Cyclists will assemble for Cranksgiving 2016 at the Sequim Food Bank at 144 W. Alder St., rain or shine.
The group’s 2016 goal is 1,000 pounds of items for the Sequim Food Bank — “our gift to the folks who need some help in our community,” said co-organizer Tom Coonelly. “To reach this goal, we need to attract as many cyclists as we can. More riders equals more food.”
Participants of all ages are invited to bring their bike and gear along with $15 to $20 to purchase food that will be donated to the food bank.
Cranksgiving organizers provide a list of food and a course that spans 4.4 miles from QFC to Walmart and back. As a kind of “scavenger hunt” on wheels, participants compete for various prizes, from fastest collector to most food collected, youngest and oldest rider, top food-gathering team and other categories.
The event also includes an after-party at Rainshadow Coffee for awards and a raffle.
The sixth such Sequim event in as many years, Cranksgiving is based on a nationwide program that this year will grow to about 250 cities and communities nationwide, Coonelly said.
The Sequim Cranksgiving is hosted by the Spoke Folks Cycling Club. Coonelly said Sequim is the smallest town in the country hosting an event.
For more information, call Coonelly at 360- 681-7053.
Port Townsend
The ReCyclery and The Boiler Room are sponsoring Port Townsend’s second annual Cranksgiving at 2 p.m. Saturday.
Cyclists will gather at The ReCyclery, 1925 Blaine St.
They will be asked to purchase a variety of things from different venues, making the money involved dependent on what they can afford. The amount spent averages between $15 and $30.
A shopping list and map will be given to cyclists at the start of the race.
All of the food collected at grocery stores will benefit The Boiler Room’s Thanksgiving Day meals. Last year, The Boiler Room served more than 100 meals on Thanksgiving.
Costumes are encouraged and the event is family-friendly, as long as kids ride bikes or are in trailers.
After the race, there will be cookies and a warm beverage at The Boiler Room for all participants, on the house, and prizes for fastest, most generous and best style will be awarded.
For information, call 360-643-1755 or email programs@ptrecyclery.org.
