A New Record for the Second Annual Chambana Cranksgiving: 888 Pounds!

Thank you to all of our cyclists, sponsors, and donors who made Chambana Cranksgiving 2009 an unqualified success! Thirty-four cyclists came out to ride on what turned out to be a gorgeous day on Saturday; we saw lots of familiar faces from last year, and were thrilled to see some new ones join the bunch too.

When we first started to plan this year's Cranksgiving, we were a bit disheartened to hear the calculation from The Eastern Illinois Foodbank which estimates that local hungry families’ need for food has increased 30 percent from last year - because, as we all know, last year food banks across the country were already unable to keep up with increased demand. However, our cyclists, sponsors, and donors certainly stepped up to the challenge, and hauled 888 pounds of nonperishable food across the finish line - more than 30 percent above last year's total of 613 pounds, even though we did it this year with fewer riders (perhaps we should revert back to last year's practice of holding it on a Sunday?). That means we've raised just over 1500 pounds in two years! That's a lot of green beans...and oatmeal...and peanut butter...and tuna...and cranberry sauce...

In sum, we are very proud to be part of a community whose members are concerned with the wellbeing of their neighbors - and, moreover, who enthusiastically embrace a slightly unconventional means of addressing those neighbors' needs. We are also proud to be affiliated with the communities of other great cities like New York, Ann Arbor, Milwaukee, Chicago, St. Louis, Omaha, and Miami (and the list goes on) who also ran their own Cranksgiving events this year; we're eager to hear the results of those alleycat food drives too. We had a blast on Saturday, and greatly appreciate the response of our participants - and the sponsors whose contributions of prizes and after party munchies ensured that our cyclists didn't go home empty-handed or empty-stomached. We're already looking forward to our third annual Chambana Cranksgiving (mark your calendars for mid-November 2010!) and definitely hope to see you there. Thanks for a great event!

41 Cans of Corn on the Wall...

Great news: we just received another donation of canned goods from a generous couple who will be unable to ride tomorrow but who still wanted to support Chambana Cranksgiving 2009. So...that means we have 41 cans of veggies to add to our stash for the Foodbank! Thank you so much.

We can't wait to see all of you tomorrow. With a high of 67 and no rain, it looks like tomorrow will be a great day for a ride.

Free Lunch

Sandella's just joined Chambana Cranksgiving 2009 by donating coupons for free flatbread items: YUM. Check them out in person at 700 S. Gregory or online at:

Sandella's

Good Karma

Although Cranksgiving is still a few days away, we already have a stack of cans, boxes, and bottles full of nonperishable food to be added to our total donation to Eastern Illinois Foodbank. Some kind and generous souls who will be unable to attend the actual event on Saturday still wanted to contribute, and they found a way to do so: we have about 45-50 pounds of food already from
these gracious donors. Last year, we raised a grand total of 613 pounds of food, and we're already on our way to exceeding that this year. Thank you for your support!

Mmmmm...Pitas

The Pita Pit has very generously agreed to contribute a couple of gift cards to our stash of prizes for our top race finishers. Be sure to check them out on Green Street. Here's their menu:

Pita Pit

Three Days to Go...

Hey, we just heard about ourselves on WPGU! Hopefully that plug will help bring all of last year's veterans back to Chambana Cranksgiving and entice some newcomers to ride a bike and feed the hungry this year, too. The weather's looking good and we're ready...

More Sponsors!

Wow, it's getting close and more sponsors are coming on board every day. Providing awesome munchies and great prizes for our after party, our newest sponsors are:


Pekara Bakery

and

Noodles and Co.

Be sure to check them out in downtown Champaign and Campustown!