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Motorcycle run helps sends treats to those serving America
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  • WHAT: Motorcycle run benefitting Treats for Our Troops
  • WHEN: This Saturday, Sept. 13, with registration from 8:30 a.m. to 10 a.m.
  • WHERE: Starts and ends at Eagle’s Nest in Lathrop
  • COST: $20 including lunch and entertainment
  • MORE INFO: Call Susie Beeler at 599-2369

It started as a simple gesture.


Susie Beeler wanted to make sure those serving America in the global War on Terror in Iraq and Afghanistan knew they were appreciated. She hatched the idea to collect “things that would make the lives of soldiers more pleasant so far away from home.” Thus, “Treats for Our Troops” was born.


Now five years and more than 2,000 boxes of treats shipped to area military personnel serving in war zones at various times during the year, the volunteers led by Beeler are gearing up for Halloween, Thanksgiving and Christmas.


A motorcycle Poker Run benefitting Treats for Troops is being planned for Sunday, Sept. 13, for all makes and models of cycles. It starts at Eagle’s Nest in Lathrop with registration from 8:30 to 10 a.m. The run will go through Manteca, Farmington, and the Escalon area.


The casual two-hour ride includes lunch for $20 plus a souvenir “run” pin for the first 150 to register. There will be live music, vendors and entertainment all afternoon. Coffee and donuts/cake will be served before departure. On return to Eagle’s Nest a hot dog lunch will be served.


The Manteca Soroptimists – of which Beeler is a member – has adopted the ongoing care package project. They send the men and women serving our country hygiene supplies, snack foods and stationery supplies from home as well as homemade cookies.


Tickets and additional information is available from Susie Beeler at 599-2369.


Kathy Emanuel of Oakdale has designed and sewn a unique motorcycle quilt which will be given away at a drawing on the day of the “run.”


“Treats for Our Troops” is a service project of Soroptimist International of Manteca. For five years they have been active with the project, sending thousands of boxes to service personnel from our area who are serving overseas. You may even wish to send a box of homemade cookies from the Camellia Women’s Group to a serviceman.


“We want to thank Eagle’s Nest for the use of their facility for the ‘run’ activities,” Beeler said. “Also thanks to members of our community who faithfully support our ‘Treats for Our Troops”’ project. We have been sending CARE packages to our servicemen and women for over five years and we will continue as long as we have the funds. The letters of thanks received from the military tell us how much our packages mean to them in the field and how much a single package can boost the morale of a soldier.


Donations go to cover the cost of mailing the packages.