The annual ride to raise funds and food for those in need is back.

Cranksgiving, the annual event that sees locals use their bicycles to ride to local shops to purchase needed food products for the Sequim Food Bank, is on tap for 8:45 a.m. Saturday, Nov. 20.

The family-friendly event is headquartered at the food bank (144 W. Alder St.), where volunteers will help participants from 8:30 a.m.-noon. Participants can bike, walk, hop, drive or whatever, organizers say. Attendees are encouraged to show up with a bike, helmet and about $20 to purchase food.

Participants will receive a unique Cranksgiving “Spokecard” and an entry number for a raffle for participants featuring donations from local merchants.

Traditional “Trophy Cans” will be awarded in various categories (Most Food Gathered, Oldest Rider, etc.) and an after-party may be possible this year, organizers said.

Those unable to ride can make a donation to the Sequim Food bank.

Sequim’s 11th overall is one of the smallest of more than 100 cities in the country hosting a similar Cranksgiving event (see cranksgiving.org). Cranksgiving started as one of several annual bike messenger “alley cat” races in New York City. Each year it is held on the Saturday before Thanksgiving as a way for cyclists to socialize, compete, and enjoy themselves while gathering food for local soup kitchens or food banks in time for the Thanksgiving holiday.

Last year, COVID-19 protocols prevented the Sequim Food Bank from taking actual food donations, so Cranksgiving participants gathered dollars instead, raising nearly $9,000. In 2019, Sequim Cranksgiving riders racked up more than one ton of food.

For more information, contact Tom Coonelly at 360-681-7053 or email to coonelly@olypen.com.