Food Run brings supplies to Oxford Services Center
06/29/2015 01:38PM ● By J. Chambless
Members of ABATE and volunteers line up to transport donated supplies into the Oxford Area Neighborhood Services Center.
By John Chambless
Staff Writer
The riders who are members of Chester County ABATE (Alliance of Bikers Aimed Towards Education) sponsor several rides and events each year, but the one that most people know about is the annual Food Run.
On July 11, the 26th annual Food Run will bring out dozens of riders who will meet in Jennersville to pick up groceries that have been donated during June and take everything to the Oxford Area Neighborhood Services Center beginning at 1 p.m.
During June, collection boxes were placed in front of the Avondale Acme, Oxford Acme, Oxford Walmart, Oxford Redners and Kennett Square Big Lots stores. Shoppers could buy and place canned foods, non-perishable foods and diapers into the boxes. On July 11, motorcycles and cars will gather at the Shoppes at Jenner's Village (at Route 796 and Old Baltimore Pike) for a 1 p.m. departure for Oxford, where the donated goods will be delivered. A police escort accompanies the riders and blocks the street while the participants form a human chain and unload the boxes of donated goods from trailers into the basement storage area at the Neighborhood Services Center.
The Food Run is named in honor of Dwight Wallace, who was killed in an accident in 1988. Wallace's mother, Arta Mae Thomas, is involved in the event each year, and rides with one of the bikers as they deliver food to Oxford. The event is also dedicated to the memory of all fallen members of the Chester County chapter of ABATE.
Last year, about 65 grocery carts full of supplies were donated, and the Food Run has gotten bigger every year.
After unloading the supplies, the Chester County chapter of ABATE will be holding its annual chapter picnic. Anyone who participates in the Food Run -- non-members included -- is invited to the picnic.
For more information about the Food Run, and all the Chester County ABATE activities, visit www.chestercountyabate.org.
To contact Staff Writer John Chambless, email [email protected].
