The crackling of motorcycles pulling into the JAKs Brewing Co. parking lot on Labor Day, Sept. 4, marked the beginning of the after-party for the second annual Stock the Pantry Poker Run.This year, more than 80 riders participated in the poker run, hosted by the American Legion Post 2008 Riders, donating 340 pounds of food and more than $2,500. All proceeds benefitted High Plains Helping Hands, a faith-based ministry serving people in need in the local area.Riders on 60 motorcycles and in three vehicles rode 80 miles around Colorado Springs, stamping a sealed envelope containing a poker hand at each designated stop through the city.The ridersí final stop was JAKs Brewing Co. in Falcon, where riders purchased raffle tickets for prizes. Monetary prizes were given to the riders with the best and worst poker hands.This year, the numbers surpassed last yearís inaugural event in all areas.ìThis year was our first year to include vehicles Ö and that was super fun,î said Dinah Carney, event organizer and committee lead.Places that were designated stops around the city also collected food items for Helping Hands, Carney said. Besides JAKs Brewing Co., Mountain View CafÈ in Black Forest, Ice Cave Cider House in Monument, The Sanctuary Church in Old Colorado City and Swirly Cow in Fountain/Fort Carson participated.ìThe entire community really came together to participate,î Carney said.The rider with the best poker hand donated 10 percent of her winnings to Helping Hands.Dianna Frazier, volunteer coordinator at Helping Hands who has been working with the organization for three years, talked about the relationship Helping Hands has built with the American Legion Post 2008.ìWe have a fantastic relationship with them. If we need something, we can just call them up … . This event raises a lot of money and Ö they do everything. Itís very important (for the American Legion) to give back to their community since they do live right here,î Frazier said. ìWe do serve a lot of veterans, and a lot of them are seniors and their income is set, so sometimes they need help because they canít make ends meet.îHelping Hands Executive Director David Edson said the American Legion and Helping Hands ìmesh well.î The American Legion Post 2008 helps many veterans, he said. ìFor our part, we refer a lot of veterans and military members to the American Legion for that ongoing emotional support.îEdson said Helping Hands will soon surpass the 1,500 people they help each month through food donations, classes, emotional and religious support, etc.Helping Hands accepts various donations, including canned goods, hygiene products (soap, laundry detergent, sanitary products, toilet paper, diapers, baby formula, and more) and monetary donations.ìEach dollar donated to us is equal to $7 of food because of our partnerships,î Edson said.ìThe American Legion Riders 2008 cannot say thank you enough to our community far and wide for the outpouring of support Ö this was a fabulous Stock the Pantry Poker Run for 2016,î Carney said.For more information on High Plains Helping Hands, visit http://hphh.org. For more information on American Legion Post 2008, visit http://americanlegionpost2008.org.
