We've teamed with the Downtown Columbia Partnership to host our annual Cranksgiving on Saturday, November 7th. Cranksgiving is designed to provide active recreation for local residents, raise awareness about the county's bikable pathway system, and generate food items for our neighbors in need.

Participants will bike from their homes Saturday, November 7th picking up requested food items along the way from the grocery store of their choice. Drop off will be at the Plaza at the Mall in Columbia (near Seasons 52) in Downtown Columbia from 10AM - 1PM. Registration is FREE; you only need to purchase the food you'll donate. The first 100 registrants will receive a shirt.

Competition: Columbia Villages, along with any other interested communities, are invited to compete to see who can donate the most. Each village will have a designated table, staffed by a volunteer provided by the Downtown Columbia Partnership, where residents can drop off their contributions. At the end of the event, we will announce the winning village based on the total donations received. Please note that any items delivered by car or vehicle other than bikes will not count towards the winning total.

Attendees will also have the opportunity to join members from HCPD’s Community Outreach and Pathways Section on a group ride starting from The Other Barn in Oakland Mills (5851 Robert Oliver Pl, Columbia) to the Mall in Columbia and back. The group ride will start at 10AM and is a great way for younger and/or less experienced riders to bike to the collection location from a Village Center with seasoned cyclists as guides.

Donations benefit Grassroots, Howard County's 24-hour crisis intervention center and shelter for individual and family consumers in need.

Most needed items:

·     Canned Meals: Chef Boyardee-any kind, Beef Stew, Corned Beef Hash, Canned Chili, Chicken & Dumplings, Canned Tamales

·     Canned Meats: Chicken, Spam, Vienna Sausage, Salmon, Sardines, Corned Beef, Ham

·     Chunky or Progresso Soups-Any variety

·     Condensed Soups-Chicken Noodle, Tomato, Cream of Mushroom, Cream of Chicken, Vegetable Beef

·     Knorr Side Dish Pouches-Rice or Pasta

·     Fruit Cups or Applesauce Cups