Motorcycle riders can enjoy a beautiful Northern California ride and a lap around the Sonoma Raceway road course while giving to a good cause as part of the 19th annual Sonoma Raceway Thanksgiving Food Drive.
RKA, a Windsor-based manufacturer and retailer of motorcycle equipment and luggage, will host a scenic motorcycle ride through wine country on Saturday, Nov. 23. Riders of all skill levels are invited and are encouraged to bring 10 or more non-perishable food items or make a $15 cash donation to the food drive, which benefits Friends in Sonoma Helping (F.I.S.H.) in Sonoma Valley and the Redwood Empire Food Bank (REFB) in Santa Rosa.
Coffee, pastries and registration will be from 7:30- 8:15 a.m. followed by a mandatory riders meeting at 8:15. The ride will depart from RKA's Windsor location at 8:30 a.m. Riders should arrive with a full tank of fuel. The ride will conclude at approximately 11 a.m. at Sonoma Raceway, where all riders will be invited to take a few laps around the Sonoma Raceway road course.
In addition to the ride, all participants are invited to purchase raffle tickets to win Sonoma Raceway race tickets, Sonoma Raceway wine gift sets, riding gear and more. Tickets are $1 each, seven for $5 or 15 tickets for $10 and can be purchased the day of the ride. RKA will offer a 10% discount on ALL RKA products, including SENA communications and helmets, to all riders.
"The Thanksgiving Food Drive Ride and the laps at Sonoma Raceway are something we look forward to every year," said RKA Motorcycle Luggage owner Richard Battles. "Giving back and helping others is most important, but the rides we do to the track are so much fun, and to see the smiles on everyone's face as they come off the Sonoma Raceway road course is very special."
The Redwood Empire Food Bank (REFB) is the largest hunger-relief organization serving north coastal California from Sonoma County to the Oregon border. Last year, 82,000 children, seniors, and adults were served in Sonoma County, 9.1 million pounds of fresh produce was offered through their programs and 8,500 volunteers donated their time, doing the work of 45 full-time staff. Their most needed items, in addition to financial donations, include tuna and canned meat, peanut butter, canned soups, stews, and chili, rice, dry beans, cereal, canned fruits and vegetables, high protein granola bars and trail mix or nuts. To learn more about the Redwood Empire Food Bank, please visit www.refb.org.
Friends in Sonoma Helping (F.I.S.H.) provides temporary or supplemental help to residents in need of assistance, generally but not limited to: food, clothing, rent, utility assistance or transportation to medical, dental or social service appointments. Over 160 FISH volunteers and numerous contributors work together to act as a lifeline to those in need and keep families in Sonoma Valley from becoming homeless or going hungry.
For more information on the RKA motorcycle ride, visit www.rka-luggage.com and go to the events page or call RKA at 707- 836-7659.
