VERO BEACH — Rev. Scott W. Alexander, minister of the Unitarian Universalist Fellowship of Vero Beach, embarked on a demanding month-long, 3,300 mile bike ride across America to beat hunger on Sunday, April 22, from Costa Mesa, California, and will be ending at a welcome home rally at Waldo’s inside the historic Driftwood Resort on Vero’s beach Tuesday, May 22.
His goal is to raise $50,000 to be split evenly between the Harvest Food and Outreach Center of Vero Beach (which distributes low cost food locally to those in need) and Stop Hunger Now (an established international organization which packages millions of sample meal packets to be distributed around the world, primarily through school feeding programs in hunger-stricken regions of the world).
The community is invited to welcome home Alexander as he finishes his final leg of the bike ride into Vero Beach outside Waldo’s at 5:30 p.m.
From Ocean Drive curbside, come cheer him on as he wheels his way into the parking lot of Waldo’s where local dignitaries, along with the cheering crowd, will kick off the proceedings to welcome Rev. Alexander back home.
Committee Chair Don Croteau, along with the morning co-hosts on 93.7 The Breeze Morning Show Geoff Moore and Dana Daniels, as well as Mayor Pilar Turner, will share the emcee spot.
Following a few words from Alexander, after dipping his bike’s front wheel into the Atlantic (he dipped his back wheel into the Pacific when he began his ride on April 22), the party will be in full gear poolside with food and beverage stations open until the close of the party at 8 p.m.
No swimming in the pool will be allowed.
Parking for the event will only be available curbside along the Ocean Drive area.
Party goers are invited to enjoy a full cash bar at Waldo’s or select beer and a specialty drink from the Charity Bar with all proceeds to be donated from Waldo’s to the fundraiser.
Waldo’s will offer a full menu inside the restaurant. They will also be offering poolside Eat to Beat Hunger Bik-e-que burgers and franks for $10, where all proceeds will be donated from Waldo’s to the fundraiser.
Waldo’s will also be underwriting the entertainment , The Old Barber Bridge Band, a favorite of Vero Beach.
Harvest Outreach food bins will be on hand to drop off non-perishable food items for the hungry, and a 30 gallon fish tank will be within reach for any donations, cash, or checks that are offered to help Alexander reach his goal of $50,000.
Representatives of The Oceanside Rotary Club will be present to sign up volunteers of all ages for the creation of up to 200,000 meal packets for hungry children.
The Stop Hunger Now organization will send a meal packet assembly team and materials to Vero Beach, and the Gifford Youth Activity Center will be utilized for the June 9th assembly.
Organizers of the Welcome Back Splash Party are Patrick Jordan, Robert Votaw, Jason Carr of 93.7 The Breeze, and Presenting Sponsor Lee Olson, Manager of Waldo’s.
All donations and sponsorships can be made out to Indian River Community Foundation for The Ride to Beat Hunger and can be sent to P.O. Box 650126, Vero Beach, FL 32965.
Looking to get involved? Call Rev. Alexander (772) 494-5009 or toll free (855) 494-5009 or visit www.TheRidetoBeatHunger.org.
