The Clearwater Legion Riders are known for helping veterans and the community.

 

Their most recent event, the annual Homeless Veterans Run & Fundraiser, brought in more than $15,000 to help organizations that serve veterans.

 

“It’s our biggest event of the year,” says Karen Olson of the Riders. “And all of the proceeds go to homeless vets.”

 

The event took place Aug. 27. It began about 10 a.m. with a motorcycle ride at the Clearwater Legion. The Riders made stops at four other American Legion clubs - Maple Lake, Elk River, St. Francis and Zimmerman before ending the ride back at home - the Clearwater Legion by 5 p.m.

 

Then everyone settled in for a pork chop dinner, silent auction, live auction, gun raffle, cash raffle and a street dance with music by Midnight Radio.

 

Karen says the event was a big success, raising $15,700, topping last year’s total of $14,700.

 

The entire community helped out, having dinner and taking part in the auctions.

 

“We had far more people going to the dinner and street dance than we had on our ride,” says Jeff Olson. “And one of the big things that helped was the corporate donors.”

 

 

Even before the event, Riders were out in the community selling raffle tickets.

“We had a lot of help selling tickets at the rodeo, Travel Plaza and Heritage Days,” says Jeff. 

 

People were stuffing money in a piggybank that made its rounds during the Heritage Days celebration. The money in that pig was raffled off during the Homeless Veterans Run and brought in hundreds.

 

At a luncheon last week at the Clearwater Legion, the Riders presented checks to three different organizations that help veterans.

 

Eagles Healing Nest, a residential veterans campus on the grounds of a former reform school in Sauk Centre, received $4,600.

 

St. Cloud StandDown, which provides services and supplies to veterans, received $4,600. That organization has two events a year where veterans can get eye exams, haircuts, clothing, wellness checks and legal advice. They can also meet with their Veterans Service Officer to learn about benefits.

 

The organization also has an outreach warehouse in St. Joseph, where veterans can pick up supplies every Tuesday and Thursday from 10 a.m. until 2 p.m.

 

 

The Riders will continue to raise funds with other events this year. Their next event is Christmas Central, where vendors gather at the Legion to sell holiday gifts. That takes place Dec. 4.

Some of the Riders will spend New Year’s Eve with veterans at the St. Cloud VA. There will be gifts and activities as they ring in the New Years together. It’s a tradition that is as rewarding to the Riders as it is to the veterans.

 

Next year is the 10th Anniversary of the Clearwater Legion Riders. There will be a summer event, which is still being planned.