Ride CT & Ride New England Serving New England, NYC and The Hudson Valley!
By Bud Wilkinson
Members of Torrington’s Reservoir Dogs Motorcycle Club hit the intersection of Route 4 (East Elm St.) and Main Street between 11 a.m. and 2 p.m. today to solicit donations for Christmas Village, the Friendly Hands Food Bank and St. Jude’s, marking the ninth year the club has staged a Christmas fundraiser.
Don “Donzo” Wing arrived in his Santa Claus suit, complete with club vest, and waved at passing vehicles as other club members accepted donations from motorists, including this rider (below) who dropped a donation into the stocking without even stopping.
Within an hour a large cook pot was brimming with bills. Club president John “Manville” Haines reported, “We’re getting more paper money” than in years past, perhaps due to the warm and sunny weather. “It should be like this every year,” he said.
Don “Donzo” Wing and John “Manville” Haines
No word on how much was raised. Haines said that’s because while the paper money can be counted without difficulty, it’s easier to take the coins to the bank and let a machine do the tabulating. The RDMC didn’t have a specific fund-raising goal. “Whatever we get, it’s up the passersby,” said Haines.
Motorists certainly showed a wealth of good cheer. “After all the bad weather, people are a little more generous,” suggested club member John “Brick” Hart. The 10 guys from the RDMC were also in good spirits, handing out candy canes to kids and dog biscuits for drivers who had their canine companions with them. “From one Dog to another,” said Haines.
