Charity fuels annual feed
The Hollister Independence Rally, a staple of the town’s history
and legacy, celebrates its 60th anniversary July 6-8. After taking
a brief hiatus last year because of city council concern over the
cost of law enforcement, the rally is back on and looking to
satisfy even the harshest of skeptics.
Charity fuels annual feed
The Hollister Independence Rally, a staple of the town’s history and legacy, celebrates its 60th anniversary July 6-8. After taking a brief hiatus last year because of city council concern over the cost of law enforcement, the rally is back on and looking to satisfy even the harshest of skeptics. The new promoter, Horse Power Promotions, has brought in a few new additions for the weekend. A few new installments added to the rally are, the builders plaza, which highlights custom-built bikes and vendors; three stages for entertainment; and for the first time in the rally’s history, organized vendors. Along with new attractions the rally offers returning riders some familiar comforts – one in particular is the fundraiser driven Biker Breakfast.
Amongst the exhaust and the ethanol of thousands of bikers descending upon downtown Hollister once again this summer, a spirit of charity comes in the form of twenty volunteers who prepare food for the nearly 2,000 expected diners. For the past 10 years, Rev. Ardyss Golden and her congregation at the Hollister United Methodist Church on Fifth and Monterey Streets have provided a hot breakfast for the bikers during the Independence Day rally. The widely popular breakfast is a staple of the event and this year it is even featured on the “schedule of events” posted on the Horse Power Promotion’s Web site – this year’s professional promoter.
Over the years the breakfast has provided a chance for members of the church to show their hospitality to the riders and also raise money for church ministries.
The breakfast started off as just another fundraiser for the church and over the years it has evolved into a major financial contributor and ministry opportunity. By hosting the biker breakfast each year, which offers a hearty breakfast for $8, the church is able to pay many of their own expenses.
“It has become more of an outreach”, Golden said, and much of the time is just spent talking with the bikers.
It has been through events such as the annual Biker Breakfast and contributions from other community sponsors that the church has raised more than $20,000 for charity through the years – $10,000 of which was donated to the American Cancer Society’s Relay for Life. With just 100 members, the fund-raisers and sponsors are key for the church to meet their main goal of giving back to the community.
“Without the fundraiser [Biker Breakfast], we would not be able to help the community like we have,” Golden said. “We were able to do it because people in the community help us.”
Prices are comparable with any breakfast at a diner. The meal includes Texas French Toast, pancakes, scrambled eggs, sausage patties, orange juice and coffee.
“Watching, as a pastor, my congregation cheerfully and enthusiastically serving old friends and new friends… it’s remarkable to watch,” said Golden, when asked what the highlight of the event is for her.
She later remarked of her joy in watching someone in the congregation who was 80 cheerfully embrace a big biker.
Many of the bikers call her and let her know they are coming down and they’re bringing friends, Golden said. In the past, bikers have said that they “have never been treated so well, they have never been so welcomed.”
