RICHMOND COUNTY – The true spirit of Christmas was demonstrated by a local riding organization on Sunday, December 17, when the Ol’ Skool Tribe Motorcycle Club orchestrated a food and clothing giveaway targeting homeless and needy individuals.
The day was, at least in consideration of the rapid approach of winter, relatively warm and clear. Such temperate conditions are always a blessing for homeless people, but this day offered even more for which members of that unfortunate group were very appreciative.
Thanks to an epiphany experienced by “Road Captain” Marty Bundy, and the subsequent efforts of his OST, comrades such as Donnie Butler and Eddie Dean, the Ol’ Skool Tribe was able to provide a hot meal and valuable winter clothing for those in need.
“I was over here getting gas one day and noticed all of the homeless across the street,” Bundy expressed. “So, I thought maybe we (OST) could help in some way.
“I bring them the leftovers from our cookouts whenever we have them, but that is not too often, so we wanted to do something bigger here at Christmas time,” Bundy added.
Bundy subsequently presented the idea to his fellow riders and the movement was put into motion. President Eddie Dean and other club officers immediately adopted the concept and the Tribe began contacting potential donors.
Setting up in the parking lot between La Cabana and the Shell gas station on Broad Street in Rockingham, the Tribe began grilling hot dogs and handing out clothes at 2 p.m. Adjacent to the grill area sat a trailer filled with donated clothing; several individuals were methodically sorting through the items, ensuring a proper fit before laying claim to any given article of clothing.
“We just heard that some bikers were up here handing out clothes and hot dogs, so here we are” said an appreciative Shervon Jennings, herself helping others to find clothes that fit.
Perdue Industries and Roger Messer of the Southern Roadhouse were two of the primary resources that provided much of the food and clothing.
Local churches such as Grace Fellowship, Outreach for Jesus, and Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints similarly donated clothing, and some of their members volunteered to help serve food and assist with the clothing distribution.
“My mama heard about it and sent us down here to help,” said 19-year-old Tymara Michael who, along with other family members Jill, Joshua, and Jolie, was busy serving up the food plates and ensuring that everyone was happy.
While there was no formal rule as to what could be appropriated, no one seemed inclined to take more than the minimum of what they really needed. Two people were even helping others find particular types of clothing, with shoes and coats seemingly being the most desirable.
While this was the first time that OST (which was established in 2004) had sponsored such an event, Bundy indicated that they hope to be able to make it an annual occurrence. Butler and Dean reiterated Bundy’s objective of doing this each year at Christmas, noting that anyone could be in need at any given time and that circumstances are not always fair to everyone.
Another “volunteer” who seemed to support this idea was six-year-old Joshua who, despite it being his birthday, was anxious to give his own valuable possessions to those who had less.
“I just want him to have it,” Joshua said when asked by grandmother Kelly Vanscyoc why he had just given his favorite ball to the man standing nearby.
