Group ministers with motorcycles

RIVER FALLS, Wis. — The River Falls-based Righteous Riders plan to cruise on their motorcycles for charity from 1-5 p.m. Aug. 25, starting at Gilby’s Street Department, 1567 Sullivan Court.

Event proceeds benefit Our Neighbors’ Place, a homeless shelter for families.

Motorcycle riders and others interested in helping can come for brats and hot dogs from 5-6 p.m. Live music by Brad Dense and Joe Brillo begins at 6 p.m. and continues until 8 p.m.

Riding and guests are asked to bring a donation of kitchen or household supplies such as aluminum foil, storage bags, cleaning products, paper towels and toilet paper, feminine hygiene items or diapers.

The Rev. Wayne Bredahl said the group would gladly accept cash or checks to Our Neighbors’ Place.

“We don’t want any of it,” he said. “We want it all to go there.”

Guests who’d like to eat should RSVP to wpbredahl@gmail.com.

Riders will receive instructions on ride day as they arrive, register and drop off a donation.

A flier for the event invites everyone to “Come and enjoy good fellowship, a great ride, food and music to benefit a good cause.”

Mission unchanged

The Righteous Riders has about eight active local members, and is a chapter of the Circuit Riders Motorcycle Ministry International.

The name endures from the early frontier days, when preachers would ride horses from farm to farm and proclaim the good news.

Bredahl, who lives in River Falls, said the local group formed about eight years ago.

The pastor of a Prescott church, Bredahl heard ONP Director Mary Jo Sutton talk about the shelter at a meeting of Prescott pastors.

“I just felt led by the Lord to do a benefit for her,” said Bredahl.

ONP serves families who need a safe place to stay while they rebound from hard times brought on by circumstances such as loss of income and family status change.

Clients may stay at ONP for three months. The emergency shelter accommodates four families in furnished apartments, housing 8-13 children at a time.

Bredahl said people don’t have to be motorcycle riders to come down and socialize or make a donation. Anyone interested in joining the Righteous Riders should contact him at wpbredahl@gmail.com. “We’d love to have more members,” he said.

Debbie Griffin is a staff writer for the River Falls Journal, which is owned by Forum Communications Co.

Tags: religion, motorcycles, wisconsin