The competition is on as Harley-Davidson of Valparaiso and Michigan City go head to head to see who can collect the most food donations for local families in need this Thanksgiving season. From now until Friday, November 22, the two locations are hosting a food drive for local nonprofits to make sure as many as possible across the Region can have their plates stuffed and their hearts full for the holidays, and it all comes down to the community to decide if it’s Team Valparaiso or Team Michigan City who comes out on top.
“We’re always trying to make a difference, especially during Thanksgiving,” said Harley-Davidson Sales and Motorclothes Specialist Ginger Misch. “The cost of living – but not always everyone’s paychecks – has gone up, and people need that extra help. You want everybody to enjoy eating for Thanksgiving, Christmas, and all year round. Drives like this help others have food so it’s one less thing they have to worry about.”
The food drive is open to all, and participants can choose if they’re Team Valparaiso or Team Michigan City based on which Harley-Davidson location they donate to. Those on Team Valparaiso will have their donations benefit Hilltop Neighborhood House, while those across the county line on Team Michigan City will have donations benefit Arise and Shine, a food and outreach center in the area.
Both Harley-Davidson locations are accepting nonperishable food items and monetary donations as part of the drive. Food donations will be directly delivered to each nonprofit, and any monetary donations will be used to buy groceries for them as well ahead of Thanksgiving.
“It's all local, which I think is cool. We thought a food drive at this time of the year was perfect because of Thanksgiving coming up,” said Misch. “We always like a little challenge though, so we wanted to include the competition with it as well.”
Lending a hand to those on a local level has always been the goal for Harley-Davidson, and as a team full of fun, competitive spirits, throwing a bit of friendly competition into the mix was the perfect combination to help out those who need it the most this time of year.
“We've done food drives, but we've never made it a competition between the stores,” Misch said. “We thought that would add to the fun for the employees as well as customers.”
Even beyond the food drive, the Harley-Davidson team has always loved giving back locally and wanted to keep that momentum going, especially during the season of giving.
“We think that these are maybe underutilized charities for great causes,” said Harley-Davidson General Manager Jeff Haggerty. “We do a lot for them at Christmas. For Hilltop House, Ginger always goes to the store around Christmas time and buys a bunch of coats, gloves, and toys for the kids.”
It also means a lot for all Harley-Davidson teams to give back whenever possible.
“When we do rides and charity events, it's neat to see people's faces. You really are making a difference for somebody who is down on their luck or for animals who have no choice in the matter, so it's nice to give back to them. There are numerous things that we do, but the charity work is probably the most fulfilling,” Misch said.
The winning team of the food drive competition will be able to claim bragging rights for the year ahead, though both Misch and Haggerty noted that the friendly competition is only the side dish of the event this Thanksgiving season. At its heart, the main course is the sense of community that arises when it comes to helping others in need. The Harley-Davidson community is a close-knit group that rides together to help one another and the communities around them whenever the opportunity arises.
“Drives like these help bring the community together,” said Haggerty. “Our motorcycle community has a great camaraderie. They take care of each other, and they have huge hearts when it comes to animals, kids, and veterans. It just warms your heart.”
Thanksgiving is just around the corner, so make sure to choose your team and start gathering your donations now! Donations can be dropped off at the Harley-Davidson locations themselves – Team Valparaiso donations can be dropped off at 1151 Morthland Drive, and Team Michigan City donations at 2968 N. U.S. Highway 421. Both locations are in it to win it, so make sure to do your part to help your team win while making a positive difference in your community today!
To learn more about how Harley-Davidson aims to help its communities during the holidays and year-round, visit the Valparaiso dealership’s website here, and the Michigan City dealership’s website here.
