Inclement weather wouldn’t stop some of Santa’s helpers from making a trip to Pine Ridge Circle.
Members of the Ghost Riders Motorcycle Club recently continued an annual tradition with the Elizabethton Housing Agency by providing over $10,000 worth of gifts to be distributed to residents.
Over the course of a 10-plus year partnership with the housing agency, the Ghost Riders have donated over $50,000 worth of toys, coats and bicycles to be presented during the agency’s annual Christmas party.
After 2016 netted $10,000 worth of items, the Ghost Riders entered 2017 with the same goal. While final numbers were not available prior to the Elizabethton Star’s press deadline, EHDA Executive Director Kelly Geagley stated the organization was able to raise between $10,000 to $12,000 from their fundraising initiative at the Elizabethton Wal-Mart.
“They far exceeded expectations,” Geagley told the Elizabethton Star Tuesday. “With these gifts, the children of the agency will have a memorable Christmas. I can’t say enough about the Ghost Riders. They do a tremendous job and are always so willing to give back to the community.”
And it is a tradition that continues to stay strong year after year, according to Geagley.
“The generosity of these find ladies and gentlemen has provided a merry Christmas for kids for several years,” he said. “The members of the Ghost Riders Motorcycle Club approached the EHDA several years ago and asked if they could help with Christmas and EHDA activities.”
To assist with the project, Ghost Riders set up at the entrances of Wal-Mart during the first two weekends of November to accept donations to benefit the Christmas fundraiser.
Ghost Rider Sam “Sambo” Moffitt is no stranger to the partnership with the EHDA.
“Every year, we get more support,” Sambo recently told the Elizabethton Star about the partnership. “It started off slow, like everything does. Now, we’re doing pretty good. The community has caught on to what’s going on and that’s what has helped us the most. Plus, we get to meet everyone while we’re out here.
“A lot of the children don’t have the chance to have a Christmas,” he continued. “I’ve seen it, we’ve all seen it. It’s set up a lot better now, but going house to house, it can tear you up, man. There are a lot of people in this community that won’t have a good Christmas. I know we’ve been able to provide Christmas to a lot of the children, and that’s only because of the people that have stopped by to show support.”
Geagley added the agency is now in the process of preparing for their Christmas party, where items will be distributed to children and families.
“It is my favorite time of the year,” he said. “When you come in and see the kids’ smile when they get their gifts … it makes everything worthwhile.”