Naked Truth On The 33rd National Bikers Roundup In Columbia, MO
on August 11, 2010 at 11:46 pmI do! We continue to support this event without thinking about what they are giving back to the biker community after grossing millions of dollars. Do you think they should donate a portion of their proceeds from the National Bikers Roundup to God’s Wheels and not solicit the bike community at the event?
Bikers roundup charity donates more than 33 tons of food
Monday, August 9, 2010 | 6:50 p.m. CDT
BY Christina Stiehl
The Food Bank for Central and Northeast Missouri, formerly the Central Missouri Food Bank, recently gained a lot of weight — more than 33 tons.
God’s Wheels, a motorcycle ministry and the official charity of the National Bikers Roundup, collected money and nonperishable food from people and motorcycle clubs during the roundup. The donations to the food bank came in the forms of cash, checks made payable to the food bank and cans and boxes of food.
For every dollar it receives, the food bank can buy 20 pounds of food. Through that formula, and with the additional donation of non-perishables, the Food Bank for Central and Northeast Missouri collected 66,563 pounds of food.
On Saturday evening, the Harley Davidson Motor Co. presented the food bank with a check for $2,500. The presentation, held on the main outdoor stage, was part of a set of live events including music performances and a fashion show.
God’s Wheels has been the official charity of the National Bikers Roundup since 1998. Harry Gumby, the founder and national president of God’s Wheels, established the motorcycle ministry four months after leaving his secular motorcycle club.
God’s Wheels collects money and goods on behalf of the local food bank in the hosting city of the roundup. Gumby said everything collected, except for some perishable food that was discarded, goes directly to the food bank.
Gumby called God’s Wheels “a good way to feed America,” because the roundup travels to a different hosting state every year.
Mike Desantis, a development associate at the Columbia-based food bank, said the organization was present at the roundup every day, transporting that day’s collectibles back to the food bank in vans and trucks.
Although the food bank does not serve people food directly, it services 132 agencies and 80 schools throughout 32 counties in central and northeast Missouri, according to its website.
Gumby said donating food for the underprivileged in the local hosting community is important to God’s Wheels.
“It’s not that we are just coming to take,” he said. “We are coming to give.”
No. You should be happy that this organization provides the oppertunity for the donations to be made. I'm sure the food bank is not complaining. As for soliciting the biker community. Charity work has become part of being in the biker community. Besides the Roundup commitee is made up of diffrent clubs. I,m sure those clubs do enough charity work on their own so quit bitching and donate as much as you feel you need to and we will do the same.
Thanks G. Rod for your comment. I love to have these exchanges because it's healthy. To respond to your comment I will first say I'm not Bitching I am merely opening the channel for dialogue. I have been involved in many conversations pertaining to the National Bikers Roundup. I have been prevledged to have spoken with many clubs who have been one of the sponsoring clubs at several Roundup to know that this event isn't handled equitably. I am all for donations and I will continue to support any organization that is involved with helping others who are in need.
One thing you're not correct about is that the Roundup Committee being made up of different clubs. I have worked the Roundup with a club that I was a member and I know that they have their own group aside from the sponsoring clubs. Yes these people come from different clubs but they have the same intent to not equitably share the profits from the event if you don't speak up and let them know that they will not rob your club. That's why they don't like messing with the outlaw bikers too much. Since you seem to know how this works ask how much was made in Atlanta and how much was given back to each sponsoring club?
Look forward to hearing back from you.