Bicyclists raise $10K for refugees

Published 1:30 am Thursday, September 1, 2022

Over $10,000 was raised at the recent Kitsap Ride for Refugees: Pedaling for a Purpose.

The event started in 2017 and after a hiatus due to COVID returned Aug. 20 at Silverdale Lutheran Church.

Rider registrations, sponsorships and individual donations raised by the all-volunteer-led event will support refugee resettlement wrap-around services provided by Lutheran Community Services Northwest.

Race director Katie Shaw said some of the 55 riders commented that they enjoyed the event because it was not only a challenging and scenic tour of the North Kitsap Peninsula, but it was well organized, ended with a beer garden and full lunch, and raised money for a worthy cause. The Hometown Band played during lunch and included the Ukrainian national anthem in their setlist. Poulsbo First Lutheran and Vinland Lutheran provided rest stops, offering food and refreshments along the route.

Kari Young, director of Donor Relations at LCSNW, said the nonprofit receives up to 60 calls daily asking for help in South Sound for Ukrainian refugees.

Also, 81 Afghan refugees were expected to arrive in the South Sound recently. Between October of 2021 and July this year, 1,063 Afghan refugees have been relocated to South Sound. The area received roughly 250 per year prior to the crisis, Young said. The Kitsap Ride for Refugees came at a critical time as agencies are responding to the largest humanitarian crisis in Europe since World War II, with 90% being women and children.

For more go to lcsnw.org