Bikers riding through DuPage, Kane for homeless vets
Guy Rossi knows the secret to a great suburban motorcycle ride, and he's ready to share it.
On Sunday, Rossi will lead bikers on a westbound ride through Elburn, Maple Park and Burlington during the third annual Riders for Homeless Veterans.
"As a motorcyclist, you like the roads less traveled and roads with more curves in them," said Rossi, the event's organizer and vice president of the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers Local 701 in DuPage County. "Everyone has commented on my ride and how enjoyable it is, so I just show them my secret roads."
Local riders who want to join the four-hour ride through the far western suburbs and support homeless veterans can register beginning at 9:30 a.m. Sunday at the IBEW union hall, 26600 Bella Vista Parkway in Warrenville.
In its first two years, Rossi said Riders for Homeless Veterans' generated a total of $18,000 for the Midwest Shelter for Homeless Veterans, a Wheaton nonprofit that provides free food, clothing, shelter, counseling and job training for five homeless war veterans at a time.
"The money is used for program needs here at the shelter to help defray expenses," said Bob Adams, clinical director and president of the board for the shelter. "We're grateful for anything and everything they're able to do for us."
Some of the funding will support a new affordable housing facility the shelter is establishing for residents to move into on their own, Adams said.
Event organizers will also donate some money from this year's ride to Honor Flight Chicago, an organization that takes World War II veterans on trips to view the World War II memorial in Washington D.C.
"Of course it's important to support homeless veterans, but we definitely want to give our World War II veterans the recognition they deserve, too," said Stephanie Kifowit, Aurora District 3 alderman and a veteran of the U.S. Marine Corps. "Different veterans need different help."
At the shelter, homeless veterans receive help with living skills, continuing their education, legal issues and employment searches, Adams said.
"The one thing we'll never run out of is homeless veterans, unfortunately," Adams said.
Rossi said he expects about 175 motorcyclists to join this year's ride. Local officials and community members will gather after the ride at 3 p.m. for a pig roast and raffle at the IBEW union hall in Warrenville.
Navistar, area casinos and private individuals have already made donations to the ride totaling about $5,000, Rossi said. He said donations are lower than in the past two years.
"We pull in a lot at the gate and through raffles, so there's a lot of donations the day of," Rossi said. "I'm hoping we'll do better."
<p class="factboxheadblack">If you go</p>
<p class="News"><b>What:</b> Riders for Homeless Veterans</p>
<p class="News"><b>When:</b> 9:30 a.m. Sunday, Sept. 12</p>
<p class="News"><b>Where:</b> IBEW Local 701 union hall, 26600 Bella Vista Parkway, Warrenville </p>
<p class="News"><b>Cost:</b> $20 per rider; $15 per passenger</p>
<p class="News"><b>Details:</b> A pig roast and raffle will begin at 3 p.m. at the union hall following the ride</p>
<p class="News"><b>Info:</b> (630) 393-1701 x 2776;</p>