STAR riders hit streets to feed needy

Leather-clad men and women braved the cold and rain on motorcycles Dec. 5 to hand out food and personal items to 400 families in need.

The group of STAR Touring and Riding Association members rode from the Walmart Supercenter in Hardeeville to Okatie Elementary School as part of a Feed The Children event.

Members of STAR Touring met a Feed The Children truck driver at 8:30 a.m. at Walmart and rode their motorcycles -- along with some not-so-brave souls who decided to take their cars -- to the school, where they distributed food to families throughout the day.

An international riding organization, STAR's focus is on family fun and riding, and is open to owners of Star Motorcycles as well as owners of all brands of motorcycles.

The local group, Chapter 379, with the help of other nearby chapters, held several fundraisers to raise money for the Dec. 5 event.

"It was a very uplifting day," STAR Chapter 379 President William Dempsey said about the recent event. "The heavens opened up and let us have sunshine on us for most of it. ... It was so good (that day) there's not words for it."

Feed The Children partner agency Abundant Life Ministries pre-selected the 400 recipient families to participate in the distribution. Each family received food, personal care items and Avon products. Abundant Life also distributed more than 400 coats.

"There's a lot of bad in this world," Dempsey said. "If we can make a difference and do a little good, it's worth everything that we go through to do it."