Cranksgiving in Cleveland Heights Brings Donations for Local Food Banks

CLEVELAND HEIGHTS, OH - Bike Cleveland hosted its fifth-annual Cranksgiving in Cleveland Heights on Nov. 19. The event took place at city hall and brought in food and other goods for local food pantries ahead of the Thanksgiving holiday.

Cranksgiving is part food drive, part bike ride, and part scavenger hunt. Cyclists are given a map of local grocery stores and are told to spend no more than $15 - or whatever they can carry - and then bring it back to city hall. Mary Dunbar, president of the Heights Bicycle Coalition and a Cleveland Heights city councilwoman, said there were about 30 participants who rode for the cause on Saturday.

"With the holidays coming up, some people just need that little boost from a food pantry," Dunbar said.

The donations were split between the Start Right Food Pantry and the Heights Emergency Food Center.

"That day it was forecast to be snowy and cold. The event started in the morning and went into the early afternoon," Dunbar said. "Luckily, the snow didn’t come out till later."

However, the forecast may have deterred other potential riders from coming out. The event has drawn between 50 and 100 people in the past. Those that did come out for the ride were wearing multiple layers. "You have to be pretty hardy to ride in chilly weather," Dunbar said.

There is a supermarket across the street from Cleveland Height's City Hall and at least one participant abandonded his bicycle to simply walk across the street, purchase some non-perishables, and dropoff their donation. They never even straddled a bicycle.

Other cicylists rode four or five miles out to a grocery store before riding back. Some came with trailres attached to their bikes. Others simply carried their groceries in carts. Dunbar said the event is also meant to help people realize they don't need a car to go grocery shopping. You can always buy a bicycle with a cart built-in and store your food there.

Cranksgiving started in New York City in 1999. Now there are events throughout the nation and the world. There have been rides held in Canada, Australia and the United Kingdom. Cleveland has been hosting a Cranksgiving for the past five years, but this was the first time the event was held in Cleveland Heights.

Photos from the Heights Bicycle Coalition