Bikers lend a helping hand

By Black & Red Motorcycle Club

Posted

While we are in the midst of the holiday season, when many of us are out there shopping for the perfect gift, decorating our homes and attending Christmas parties, the men of Black & Red Motorcycle Club in Baldwin are doing their part to give back to those who may not be able to give to their own. Black & Red MC is a group of motorcycle enthusiasts who live in the Baldwin/Oceanside/Island Park area. Most are in their 40s and 50s and are married with children. On Nov. 14, they held their 2nd Annual Canned Food and Coat Drive at their Baldwin clubhouse and the response was overwhelming.

“We reached out to our friends in the motorcycle community and over the course of one evening many of them came down and donated hundreds of coats and canned goods” said Mark Valentino, secretary of Black & Red MC.

The drive was the brainchild of original founding member Phil Ioco. “Phil had the idea of doing something for the community and hosting it at our clubhouse,” Valentino said, “so last November we held our first annual Canned Food and Coat Drive. We put out the information of who we are and where people could bring the donations. We weren’t sure who was going to come, but within a few hours, we were stocked from floor to ceiling with hundreds of coats and canned goods.”

The first drive was such a huge success that the club decided to hold one every November. Word spread of the drive’s success and this year drop boxes were placed at some local businesses as well as other motorcycle club clubhouses.

“Many of our members were affected by Hurricane Sandy,” said Road Captain Harry Gearity. “Our homes were damaged, we lost our cars, our motorcycles. We know first hand just how a family can lose everything in the blink of an eye. We were fortunate enough to be able to rebuild. There are many people out there who are still suffering. We want to give something back to the community.”

Distributing the donated items was a no brainer. The club again gave everything to The Salvation Army and LI Cares, the Long Island food bank. On Nov. 23, both organizations came down and the men of Black & Red MC filled up the trucks with all the donated items.

“Bikers are sometimes portrayed in a not so favorable light,” Valentino said. “We’re hoping that people see the good that we are doing and can see that behind the loud Harleys, dark sunglasses, tattoos, long beards and skull rings, that we’re just a bunch of family men who are trying to spread some holiday cheer.”

“The façade is just a façade,” added Tom Crane. “People see what they want to see, but once they realize what we do and who we are, they’ll never forget us”.

The Black & Red MC will be accepting donations at their clubhouse throughout the year. They ask that anyone requesting information or when to come by with donations to visit them on Facebook.