OSWEGO, NY – The Oswego Salvation Army will have plenty of horsepower to kick its “I Believe Capital Campaign” into high gear.
The Salvation Army and American Bikers Aim Toward Education (ABATE) motorcycle club are planning a fund-raiser for Aug. 16.
At its meeting Monday night, the Common Council approved the Salvation Army’s request for a police escort for the motorcycles from the Salvation Army to the city limits on Route 104 West.
They also approved providing several barricades to block the Salvation Army’s parking lot from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. and waiving the noise ordinance that day from 2 to 5 p.m.
According to Gail Goebricher, event chair, all of the funds would benefit the Salvation Army’s capital campaign for renovations of the new citadel on West Second Street.
Registration will be at 11 a.m. at the citadel with the ride starting at noon.
The riders will be out for about an hour to an hour and a half while Raging River BBQ prepares a barbecue in the Salvation Army’s parking lot. There will also be a live band.
“The Salvation Army right now is serving over 2,500 people a month between its kitchen and the other things that they do,” said Goebricher, an I Believe team member.
The kitchen is out of St. Mary’s Church currently as the Salvation Army waits for renovations to be completed in its new home.
“Not only is it small but it is also becoming a problem for one reason or another in the neighborhood with the parking etc,” she said. “So, they are anxious to get the new kitchen done as soon as possible.”
After the bikers finish their ride out around the Sterling area, they will come back into the Port City via West Seneca Street to the Salvation Army.
The noise will be at a minimum; they will be riding in and out of town, not revving their engines, Goebricher said, adding the band will be located along the citadel’s wall on the West Second Street side so it will block a lot of the sounds from reaching the apartment complex on West First Street.
“As far as the number of bikes, I haven’t a clue,” she said. “It will depend on the weather. It could be around 50 or it could be 150. These people are very generous to help the kitchen. All the money will go directly into the Oswego building project. It is a project that is very sorely needed.”
