Local businesses and community members came together Saturday, April 27 to support the organization “End Hunger in Calvert County” (EHCC).
For the last fifteen years, EHCC has hosted an annual distance biking event. Bikers pay a registration fee to participate, which supports EHCC. Routes, this year, ranged in length from 16 to 63 miles, and included photo ops at Jug Bay Wetlands Sanctuary, the Patuxent River, and multiple spots on the Chesapeake Bay. EHCC supported rest stops along the route, which provided food, drinks, and encouragement. One had donated Rita’s Italian Ice. The ride ended with a barbeque at Chesapeake Church near the 2/4 split.
This year, 388 bikers participated. The oldest was 81 years old. Participants came from all over the greater Washington DC area to enjoy the beauty of southern Maryland. A local resident commented on how he enjoys biking, but how Calvert’s roads are dangerous to bike on, because they’re windy and often lack shoulders. He enjoys the EHCC ride because there are large groups of bikers that generally help drivers be more aware. Ms. Barb Haley first participated in the event five years ago when a friend dragged her into it. She said, “I like the comradery of riding with a bunch of friends. There’s twelve of us together this year.”
One hundred thirty volunteers aided in facilitating this event, preparing food and grab bags in advance, hosting rest stops, cleaning up, and coordinating the entire event. My family helped host the rest stop at Herrington Harbour in Anne Arundel county. It was neat to see all the different types of people who participated. We enjoyed working with the other volunteers and spending time near the beautiful Chesapeake Bay. It was chilly, though.
This year’s ride was marred by one Huntingtown driver, who attempted to force two bikers off the road in a moment of road rage. The man pulled into a driveway and used a shotgun to fire three shots at the cyclists. The Calvert County Sheriff’s Department later placed the man in custody. He was charged with two counts of First-Degree Assault and two counts of Reckless Endangerment.
End Hunger in Calvert County is an organization that provides food to those in need, working with other local organizations, like the American Chestnut Land Trust and other food banks. EHCC also has a culinary program to help individuals develop marketable skills and self-sufficiency. In 2023, EHCC distributed 1.6 million pounds of food and household products, serving 25,000 people in southern Maryland.
