Montclair Cyclists Team Up For Thanksgiving ‘Turkey Ride’

MONTCLAIR, NJ — The turkey ride is back in Montclair.

The Montclair Bikery will host its 7th annual “Turkey Ride” to benefit the Human Needs Food Pantry on Sunday, Nov. 24. During the event, riders will travel a 15-mile route to the Brookdale ShopRite on Broad Street in Bloomfield to purchase turkeys, then deliver them by bike and by van to the Montclair pantry.

Those turkeys will be used by the pantry when it distributes a Thanksgiving feast to its clients the week of Nov. 19, organizers said.

Cyclists will meet at Montclair Bikery, 145 Valley Road, at 9 a.m. to begin the journey. Interested participants should register at www.bikereg.com or in person at the store prior to the ride. Riders may also sign up the day of the ride. All riders must be 18 years or older and are asked to bring $20 to buy the turkey, which is being discounted by the Brookdale ShopRite. Cyclists may buy additional turkeys, which will be transported to the pantry.

Last year, more than 250 cyclists braved the cold, windy weather and donated 350 turkeys. Over the past six years, the Turkey Ride has collected more than 1,300 turkeys and raised over $125,000 for the Human Needs Food Pantry.

Those not able to ride on Nov. 24 can still help out the pantry by making a contribution for turkeys at the Montclair Bikery. Partners For Health will match all monetary donations up to $10,000 made between now and Nov. 24. Checks should be made out to the Human Needs Food Pantry and dropped off at The Montclair Bikery or the pantry.

“It’s always inspiring to me to see so many people who are willing to give of themselves and share in such a fun event,” said Dave Adornato, owner of Montclair Bikery.

Additional sponsors include A&M Industrial, Amanti Vino, Berkshire Hathaway Home Services/Sharon Gill, Brookdale Shoprite, Clara Maass Medical Center, Corneal Associates of NJ, Clear Mountain Partners, LLC, Egan & Sons, George Held Architects, The Glading Group at Greystone Consulting, The Rider Family, KIPP NJ, Michael Aiduss Design, Montclair Kimberley Academy, Montclair Bread Company, Modclair, Moss & More, Notch Partners, Partners for Health, Parsons Cabinetry, PowerBar, Sandler O’Neill & Partners, Saturn Wireless, SMART Integrative Design, Temple Ner Tamid, Trogon Construction Management, and Thomas Direct.

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