Laconia Harley-Davidson Raising $50K for NH Food Bank

Laconia Harley-Davidson is jumpstarting the 2015 Laconia Motorcycle Week in a big way, by raffling a coveted Harley-Davidson 2015 Street Glide motorcycle to raise $50,000 for the New Hampshire Food Bank, according to a press statement.

Laconia Harley-Davidson’s annual charity motorcycle raffle is aimed at generating critical funds for the NH Food Bank and specifically its efforts to support veterans. In the last six years, Laconia Harley has raised more than $185,000 for New Hampshire nonprofits. Tickets are on sale now. For more information and to purchase tickets, please visit laconiaharley.com/--bike-week.

“We are thrilled to give Harley-Davidson fans the chance to win a brand new Touring bike from the innovative 2015 Rushmore Harley line-up, and we are equally pleased to be able to give back in such a big way to the NH Food Bank and help veterans in need,” said Anne Deli, owner of Laconia Harley-Davidson. “Laconia Harley-Davidson has always made it a point to support New Hampshire’s veterans. This year, during Bike Week, we are dedicating Thursday, June 18th as Veteran’s Appreciation Day with a ride, party and vigil to honor those who have served our country. Considering that veterans reside in 24 percent of households the NH Food Bank serves, this raffle is going to have a substantial impact on a vulnerable population.”

During the past six years through its annual charity motorcycle raffle, Laconia Harley-Davidson has raised $185,000 to support a variety of New Hampshire nonprofit organizations, including the Loon Preservation Society, The Winnipesaukee Playhouse, the NH Food Bank, and the Boys & Girls Club of the Lakes Region. Last year, Laconia Harley-Davidson raised $30,000 for two local charities: David’s House, which serves as a no-cost home away from home for families with children receiving treatment at Children’s Hospital at Dartmouth-Hitchcock, and the Lake Winnipesaukee Sailing Association, which developed an adaptive sailing program.

At $10 apiece, just 5,000 raffle tickets are available. Tickets can be purchased at Laconia Harley-Davidson in Meredith and White Mountain Harley-Davidson in North Conway, through Saturday, September 5. Tickets sell out quickly. One lucky winner will be drawn on September 5 during Laconia Harley-Davidson’s “Chrome Coming” from noon to 3 PM at the Meredith dealership. Tickets will be sold throughout the 92nd Laconia Motorcycle Week from June 13-21.

Tickets may also be purchased at nhfoodbank.org/Laconia-Harley-Davidson-Charity-Raffle.aspx.

“We are so grateful for this incredible support from Laconia Harley-Davidson. This donation will have a major impact on the services we provide to veterans in New Hampshire,” said Mel Gosselin, executive director of the New Hampshire Food Bank, a program of Catholic Charities NH. “One of the challenges faced by veterans today is the often difficult transition from military life into civilian life. As they go through that transition, many veterans do not have the resources or the funds to care for themselves or their families. Nationally, 25% of military families seek food aid. This support from Laconia Harley-Davidson will go a long way in addressing this growing need in New Hampshire.”

The NH Food Bank supplies millions of pounds of food annually to more than 400 partner agencies. During 2014, the NH Food Bank reached a record food distribution of 11 million pounds, which is equivalent to nearly 9.2 million meals; a nearly 30 percent increase from 2013. The Food Bank is aiming to increase its distribution this year by 10 percent to 12 million pounds of food to meet the needs of the 143,200 people in New Hampshire who are food insecure, meaning they do not know where their next meal is coming from.

The Harley-Davidson Street Glide is one of the most popular motorcycles in the world with good reason: classic Harley-Davidson style, highway comfort and a new, more powerful engine.

To learn more about Laconia Harley-Davidson, visit laconiaharley.com.