Catholic Charities of Joliet shifted gears last weekend, driving community members by the dozens to the inaugural Heroes for the Homeless Motorcycle Run.
The fundraiser was one of many events organized by the agency, whose aim is to provide social services to individuals in need and other vulnerable members of the community.
Highlights included live music by School of Rock Mokena, food and a raffle.
Marianne Melcher, an event coordinator for Catholic Charities of Joliet, said bringing the community together in support of agency is key to its ability to provide services.
“With it being our first time this event, we’re looking forward to reaching out to others in the community who haven’t been to our events,” she said.
Kathleen Langdon, director of development and communications for Catholic Charities of Joliet, said event is particularly important now because of social service cuts associated with the state of Illinois’ ongoing state budget impasse.
Kathleen Langdon, director of development and communications for Catholic Charities of Joliet, said the event is particularly important now because of social service cuts associated with the state of Illinois’ ongoing budget impasse.
“Even though Catholic Charities of Joliet hasn’t incurred the monetary problems, we have seen an increase in clients,” she said.
Langdon added that even though Catholic Charities of Joliet was financially “well prepared,” many more agencies will be negatively impacted the longer Illinois goes without a state budget.
“If they don’t fix this budget, even the strongest agencies will feel what happens from not having it,” she said.
The Heroes for the Homeless Motorcycle Run intends to bring the community together in support of the agency and its programming.
Bob Weber, of Plainfield, was one of many bikers in attendance for the motorcycle run. He said he heard about the event through a few friends from his workplace, and he’d recently participated in another motorcycle run for charity.
“I love doing this,” he said, who recently participated in a different motorcycle run for charity. “I love raising money for charities like this.”
Riding his motorcycle in support of the homeless, the needy and seniors is something that Weber said has great meaning.
“Being able to help people who are a lot worse off than I am makes me feel real good,” he said.
Brad Kanpkiewicz, of Plainfield, was also cruising the streets of Plainfield as part of the Heroes for the Homeless Motorcycle Run. He too recently completed another motorcycle run for charity. After hearing about the Heroes for the Homeless event from some of his friends, Kanpkiewicz said he’s been looking forward to riding again in support of a good cause.
“It’s nice to ride with nice people [and] do good things for charities,” he said. “It makes the ride really special. Helping people, that’s the way life should be.”