Seattle’s sixth annual Cranksgiving food drive bike ride was Saturday, and it was one for the record books. 160 people bought an astounding 1,560 pounds of food from local food vendors all around town and hauled it by bike to Rainier Valley Food Bank.

As our city grows and generates so much wealth, that wealth is not getting to everyone. Rainier Valley Food Bank is serving more people now than it ever has. The organization helps thousands of people put food on the table every week, and the holiday season is its busiest time.

So big thanks to everyone who came out Saturday for a day of fun, but also a day of lending a hand. Cranksgiving is now one of the biggest one-time food drives for the food bank annually, and it happens one food purchase, one pedal stroke and one bike pannier at a time. But families struggle year-round in our city, so please consider volunteering or donating more often if you can. You can even start now by helping their online holiday fund drive.

Cranksgiving is an alleycat-style scavenger hunt by bike where riders get a list of items to buy and food sellers to buy from all around town. The concept started on the east coast and spread to cities all over the country. Seattle Bike Blog has had the privilege of starting and hosting Seattle’s Cranksgiving for the past six years.

It’s technically a race, though most people don’t actually race. The more items you check off the list and places you visit, the more points you get. Prizes were donated by Mountaineers Books, The Royal Room, Flying Lion Brewing, Detours bags, Urban Cycling by Madi Carlson, Free Range Cycles, Rebecca Roush and Kelli Refer. We also owe a big thank you to Dan Dilulio, who volunteered to help work the finish line at the Royal Room.

Being in November, Seattle’s rainiest month, Cranksgiving is also a winter biking event. But the weather did not cooperate Saturday, beaming sunshine the whole time.

It’s also a celebration of all the wonderful and unique food sellers around Seattle, from farmers markets to the Pike Place Market to co-ops to international markets to community-loved discount stores. Because grocery shopping is a blast when you go by bike. (more…)