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Photograph by Vicki Thompson

Holiday Giving: 5150 Motorcycle member Redd Watson purchases two of the 25 turkeys his group delivers to families at Gardner Academy.

Ninjas on motorcycles donate turkeys

By Mayra Flores De Marcotte

This Thanksgiving, 25 Greater Gardener families received their holiday dinners and fixings from a group of Ninjas.

Gardner Academy's resource teacher Michelle Perez arrived on Nov. 18 revving her metallic blue 2003 Kawasaki Ninja 636 sports bike. Joining her were members of 5150, the team of Ninja-motorcycle-riding friends she belongs to.

The motorcycle team was delivering the crowning piece to all Thanksgiving dinners--the turkeys.

The members of 5150 were looking for a community event they could be part of for the holidays and decided donating turkeys to families in need offered an opportunity.

"Our motorcycle team wanted something of their own," Perez says.

Over the years, the group had been involved in national drives such as Toys for Tots, but this time wanted something closer to home, something in its own community.

"I thought, this would be a really cool opportunity to help the community and those at Gardner Academy all at once," she says.

Perez has been riding motorcycles for the last five years.

The team rides out of Union City on Sundays for the sheer pleasure of enjoying the sun and wind on their faces.

On sunny days, Perez rides her bike to work. Her mode of transportation excites her students, who are eager to greet her as she pulls into the school. "They love seeing my shiny bike," Perez says. "They like the bright colors."

Even standing still, the machine looks like it's about to dive into the asphalt, with a back end slightly pointed upward and a seat facing down. The handlebars are at arm's reach, making it look as if the rider is about to become one with the bike.

Perez decided to volunteer her team for the Thanksgiving food drive when she saw a flier in her mailbox in the school's main office.

The school has held the drive for five years, with the collected food going to a family in each of the 25 classrooms.

Luanne Solares, outreach coordinator and the food drive organizer, had asked teachers to turn in the name of one family in their room that needed a dinner, but instead received two to three names.

The families not selected for the dinners through the school will receive a meal with all the fixings from the Gardner Community Center.

The food drive and turkey dinners also serve as a way for the school to reach out into the community it educates.

"These events help to further strengthen our partnerships with the community," Solares says. "It makes it possible for parents to connect to resources."

The motorcycle team's efforts serve as an important lesson during this holiday season.

Its efforts demonstrate that one person can help make a difference and teach the students an important lesson about giving and being grateful for what they do have, Solares says.

"Even though they may come from low-income families, they can give a little, too," Solares says. "This helps build strong character and allow our students to grow into strong adults."

Because the school does not partner with an organization that could supply the holiday birds, such as a supermarket chain or a nonprofit agency, the number of families it has been able to help has fluctuated throughout the years from a high of 45 to a low of 25.

In the past, Solares would ask friends, family and teachers to help with a donation of a turkey, but with the help of the motorcycle team, Solares had to do a lot less "groveling and begging."

Solares was ecstatic when Perez volunteered her motorcycle team.

"I was going to have to get turkeys myself," Solares says.

All 50 members of 5150 participated in the turkey drive by donating money that went toward the purchase of the turkeys at Midtown Safeway on 1300 W. San Carlos St.

"We're not a club, so everything we did was voluntary," Perez says.

Motorcycle clubs have dues and meetings. A motorcycle team such as 5150 simply gets together to enjoy an afternoon ride.

"Every community has a population that needs something," Perez says. "We hope that this small effort will help them out."