LMU Women of Service, in collaboration with Bootlegger and Knoxville Harley-Davidson locations, announces the "Fueling Students for Success Bike Ride" to support Lincoln’s Cupboard in addressing student food insecurities.
Event Details:
Date: Saturday, September 7, 2024 (RAIN Date: Saturday, September 21, 2024)
Starting Point: Knoxville Harley-Davidson – Clinton Highway
Ending Point: Bootlegger Harley-Davidson
Schedule:
Check-in/Registration: 10:30 a.m.
Kickstands Up (KSU): 11:30 a.m.
Participation Fees:
Riders: $15 and one food item
Passengers: $5 and one food item
Cars and Trucks are welcome!
Registration for the bike ride will take place in person at Knoxville Harley-Davidson. Commemorative T-shirts will be available for purchase on the day of the ride while supplies last.
LMU’s mission is to educate students in rural Appalachia. During the 2023-2024 academic year, LMU provided $26.6 million in tuition-based scholarships and grants to support enrollment. Despite this financial aid, many students continue to struggle financially, often unable to afford regular meals. This impacts their ability to persist and succeed in school.
In 2016, Judy Hansard, President of LMU’s Women of Service, initiated Lincoln’s Cupboard as her term project. What began as a food cupboard on the main campus in Harrogate, Tennessee, has expanded to multiple locations. These include Knoxville area campuses such as Cogdill Road, Cedar Bluff, Knoxville Tower, Downtown (Duncan School of Law), as well as campuses in middle and west Tennessee. Additionally, there is a nursing school location in Corbin, KY., and a newly created cupboard in Tampa, Florida., for nursing students.
Lincoln's Cupboard has been a lifeline for many students. One student shared, "I really appreciate [the pantry]. My budget is really limited and a fast meal for free is better than not eating."
“Great option for students who are financially limited. I was there earlier today to pick up some toiletries and food. … the pantry has been a lifesaver for me in many instances,” said another student.
While supported by generous donations from donors and local food banks like Second Harvest in Knoxville, Lincoln’s Cupboard continues to accept monetary and in-kind donations to alleviate student food insecurities.
The founders of Knoxville and Bootlegger Harley-Davidson locations, Dile and Connie Brown, started in the Harley-Davidson business back in 1966 when they purchased their first dealership in Chillicothe, Ohio. The Browns ran their business part-time until the opportunity came to purchase Knoxville Harley-Davidson in 1968. Since then, their vision and desire to grow has led them into three different buildings and many remodel along the way. Along the way two sons were born into the business – Dile Jr., better known as DJ, and David. In 2005, they all decided to open a second Harley-Davidson store in West Knoxville in order to better serve their customers. That store, now Bootlegger Harley-Davidson®, has continued to grow year after year. The Browns' philosophy has and will continue to be, "Our Customers Come First, Welcome to the Bootlegger Family." They are thrilled each time a new customer is added to the Bootlegger family, and that enthusiasm is spread throughout the entire store by all employees.
For more information, contact LMU Women of Service President, Dr. Sherry Jimenez at sherry.jimenez@LMUnet.edu.
Lincoln Memorial University is a values-based learning community dedicated to providing educational experiences in the liberal arts and professional studies. The main campus is located in Harrogate, Tennessee. For more information about the undergraduate and graduate programs available at LMU, contact the Office of Admissions at 423-869-6280 or email at admissions@LMUnet.edu.
