Check-ins for charity offered during 110th at Summerfest grounds

Check-in service at 110th raises donations for charity

MILWAUKEE (WITI) -- Bikers flooded Henry Maier Festival Park on Thursday for the kickoff of Harley-Davidson's 110th anniversary celebration -- and folks were donating money to charity through a special check-in, where bikers could drop off items.

"We are checking helmets, so that way people don’t have to carry them around, and we’re accepting donations for Habitat For Humanity, so that we can build more homes for needy, deserving, hard-working, Milwaukee families," Karen VanHoof said.

On Thursday, during the kickoff of the big 110th anniversary celebration, VanHoof was representing Habitat for Humanity.

The check-in, which can also involve Harley-Davidson leathers is free, but donations are encouraged.

"It’s in a secure location. We have a couple Summerfest volunteers, and we’ll have several Milwaukee Habitat For Humanity volunteers here as well," VanHoof said.

The check-in can be spotted by looking for check-in volunteers' fancy shirts, which feature the traditional "Live to Ride" with a new spin: "Ride to Give."

At the South Gate Thursday, Justine Vergeer helped staff at the Hunger Task Force's charity check-in.

"People are comin’ to the Fest. They don’t wanna lug around their helmets, and their backpacks, and their jackets, so they come here," Vergeer said.

Vergeer says this first-of-its-kind effort has been well-received.

"They think it’s cool. A lot of people are from out of the country, so they’re interested. We’ve met a couple people who are on the boards of their local food banks, so they relate, which is cool," Vergeer said.