Group Plans Bike Trip to Raise Funds for Homeless

Members of a local nonprofit will bicycle 470 miles across Iowa, climbing 22,000 feet in scorching summer weather, to raise money for Elk Grove’s homeless.

People Assisting the Homeless, or PATH, along with a few other like-minded Elk Grovians, will participate in The Register’s Annual Great Bicycle Ride Across Iowa from July 24 to 30. The journey begins somewhere near Iowa’s western border and ends at the eastern border along the Mississippi River, according to the event’s website.

PATH member John Platt said the organization hopes to raise up to $40,000 through pledges.

“I’m always a little ambitious. I think the potential is great,” Platt said. “We have got to help these people. There are so many people in Elk Grove that are homeless or are nearly homeless.”

Created in May 2010 as part of the Elk Grove Food Bank, PATH has helped Elk Grove’s homeless in a variety of ways. These include providing them with counseling and advice on where to get help, purchasing motel vouchers to protect them from the winter cold, finding low-income housing for people with limited income, and working with local businesses that can assist the homeless, said PATH coordinator Frank Lucia.

The organization also gives people some supplemental income until they can get back on their feet, and helps those who live in their cars pay for their registrations, Lucia said.

But foremost, PATH aims to raise awareness about the growing problem of homelessness in Elk Grove, Lucia said. 

Because Elk Grove doesn't have a shelter, being homeless has been difficult for those who don't have any means to get to Sacramento, or simply don't want to leave the area, said Rebecca Santos, Elk Grove Unified School District’s part-time homeless liaison. 

"They (PATH) really fill a gap in the community," Santos said. "This (ride) is just another way they are hoping to raise funds."

Platt and Lucia, who will both participate, said they have started preparing for the weeklong trip through daily workouts, bike rides around Elk Grove and more frequent trips to the gym. 

Platt, a longtime bicyclist, said that while participating in the ride has its physical benefits, there's a more pressing reason to join.

"It’s also an incentive to try to raise the money," he said. "We need money to help all these people who are struggling with their homes.”

TO PLEDGE MONEY: People can mail checks to P.O. Box 1447, Elk Grove, CA 95759. Make checks payable to PATH c/o Elk Grove Food Bank.