Bikers ride in poker run to benefit Meals on Wheels

By Mimi Abebe

Posted: August 23, 2009 at 6:03 a.m.

Anthony Reyes
Robb Van Auken, from left, Ted Points and Bay Phommachak plan their route Saturday for the Wheels for Meals Poker Run in the Bill Eddy's Motorsports parking lot in Fayetteville. All proceeds from the poker run benefited the Springdale and Fayetteville Meals on Wheels programs, which Points said was the main reason for choosing to participate in that event.

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FAYETTEVILLE — More than 200 bikers took a ride through the Ozarks on Saturday during the Senior Activity Center's first Wheels for Meals Poker Run.

Sherri Napier, director for the Fayetteville Senior Activity Center and the Meals on Wheels program, said the event aimed at raising money to support the organization's food delivery service, which provides meals to homebound residents older than 60.

"We're teaming up with the Springdale Senior Center to raise money because our donations are down," she said. "With the economy being the way it is, we had to think of something creative."

The Meals on Wheels Poker Run started at Bill Eddy's Motorsports. Bikers rode nearly 120 miles through the Ozark National Forest, Siloam Springs, Summers and toward Tahlequah, Okla., and Kansas before winding back around and finishing at the Fayetteville Senior Activity Center.

"We've been marketing this for two months, and we've been on every poker run Web site," Napier said. "Different motorcycle groups have helped promote the event by handing out fliers to everyone they know."

For a $25 registration fee, participants received a free T-shirt and two raffle tickets for entry in a drawing for a $1,099 electric start generator. The person with the best poker hand received a $1,000 cash-prize. More than $2,600 cash prizes and other free items were also distributed. Breakfast was provided by Bill Eddy's Motorsports and lunch was served by the Fayetteville Senior Activity Center.

"I don't know how you could ask for better weather than this," Bill Eddy, owner of Bill Eddy's Motorsports, said. "We've had lots of poker runs, and when it comes to events with motorcycles, weather is everything."

Temperatures in Fayetteville remained in the mid-70s throughout the day Saturday with abundant sunshine and low humidity.

Eddy said he hopes to become an annual supporter of the event.

"I have a mother-in-law who lives with me and spends a lot of time at the Springdale Senior Center," he said. "I think it's a great place for her to go. The Meals on Wheels program is also a tremendous cause. It provides people with a hot meal for a low price, which is good because a lot of individuals wouldn't eat right otherwise."

In addition to limited funding, Napier said the demand for Meals on Wheels' services continues to increase. The organization currently delivers more than 500 meals to residents in Fayetteville and Springdale.

"We've had meetings and can already see that the demand for our services keeps going up," she said, "We also have to look ahead at the baby boomers who are starting to retire. We may have to start a waiting list like we did the year before last. We really don't want to do that though."

Meals on Wheels serves homebound residents who can't make their own meals and who don't have anyone to take care of them. Income level is not a requirement to qualify for the program.

"A lot of our clients have family members who have moved away or spouse who has died, which makes us their only contact," Napier said. "I can't tell you how many times we've been told 'You're a lifesaver' because they don't have anyone else to check on them."

More than 40 volunteers in Fayetteville assist Meals on Wheels with its meal delivery service. Volunteers also conduct in-home assessments every six months to check individual needs for service.

"We do more than deliver food," Napier said. "We hand out a lot of literature about home safety, falling and emergency equipment. We also alert other agencies of their individual needs."

For more information or to make a donation, call (479) 571-2920 or visit www.nwaedd.org.

News, Pages 1, 7 on 08/23/2009

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