ROCKINGHAM — Residents of a home for special needs children will have a good Christmas, thanks to a group of local lady bikers.
A motorcycle ride, slated for Sept. 9, will raise money to purchase Christmas gifts for the kids at Pence Place in East Rockingham.
Taylor Lingren said N.C. Legends, a motorcycle club her father was associated with, organized an annual toy run years ago to benefit Pence Place, raising enough money to provide playground equipment at the site.
“It was something I wanted to always get back into,” Lingren said, adding that her fellow female bikers feel the same way.
Lingren said the former club disbanded in 2006.
“Hopefully we can get them everything they need and everything they want,” including clothes, toys and room decorations, Lingren continued, “…to make them have the best Christmas they’ve had in a long time.
“That’s my goal: I want to see all of them smile…”
Last year, the home only had $75 to spend per child for Christmas, according to Residential Team Leader Sherry Thompson. However, they were able to get a generous donation from Mike Griffin.
Pence Place, affiliated with Monarch, has been in operation for three decades and serves children up to age 21 with intellectual and developmental disabilities and traumatic brain injury.
It is currently home to nine children, according to Thompson.
Once they age out of Pence Place, the residents are either placed in Monarch-affiliated adult homes or with other organizations. Thompson said Monarch also has apartments and other homes for those who are able to live more independently — whichever level suits their needs the best.
Pence Place is funded by Medicaid and Monarch, and donations. However, Thompson said there haven’t been many donations lately.
The ride will start and end at the Hide-A-Way Tavern on Billy Covington Road north of Rockingham, with registration at noon and kickstands up at 1 p.m. Cost is $15 for single riders and $20 for doubles.
After the ride, there will be door prizes and an auction, as well as a hot dog plate sale. Plates are $10 for non-riders.
There will also be a box at the bar for clothing and toy donations for those who can’t make it to the ride.
The gifts will be delivered on Dec. 9.
The following weekend, the Hide-A-Way will co-host the fourth annual Back the Blue Ride.
Last year, the two-county event — which supports the shop-with-cop/deputy programs in Richmond and Scotland counties — raised $14,000.
Click here to read about the 2022 ride.
Chris Jackson, a 26-year veteran of the Laurinburg Police Department, started the event in 2020 following a nationwide backlash against law enforcement.
There were more than 200 participants the first year, with some riders starting at Cross Roads Grill (formerly Jerry’s Deli) in Laurinburg and joining others at the Hide-A-Way before riding back to Scotland County.
Organizers of both events are still seeking door prizes, auction items and monetary donations.
For more information on the Pence Place ride, contact Lingren or Felicia Sachs via Facebook; for the Back the Blue Ride, contact Jackson at 910-610-5140.
Both rides are open to all vehicles, not just motorcycles.
Three previous rides hosted by the Hide-A-Way this year have brought in more than $17,000 combined for the Silvertip Hunt Club’s annual veterans hunting trip, Project Taylor and Richmond County Special Olympics.
