The 2024 Support Our Veterans Ride, set for Aug. 17, offers a unique opportunity for participants to direct their donations to a specific veteran.

Last year, 65 veterans each received $200 thanks to the riders.

Additionally, $1,000 was donated to Hunting With Heroes and another $1,000 was donated to the Brushy Creek Area Honor Flight.

A handful of members of the American Legion Post 415 Auxiliary in Livermore started the ride. Two of them, Sue Fevold and Helen Collins, have sons who served in combat in Iraq.

“We’re just a couple of moms thinking ‘What can we do to ease their burden?'” Fevold said.

“We stand together to let the veterans know they’re not forgotten,” she said.

The ride is in its third year.

Basically, all rides for charitable purposes have a sign-in fee and the Support Our Veterans Ride is no different. It has a $25 fee. However, when participants pay that fee they can provide the name and address of a veteran and the money goes to that individual.

If the rider doesn’t name a veteran, their sign-in fee goes into a pool of money along with money from fundraisers and donations. The money in that pool is then divided evenly between the veterans that ride organizers have names and addresses for.

“Our goal this year is to assist 100 veterans,” Fevold said.

This year’s ride will begin at the American Legion Post in Livermore. It will proceed to stops in LuVerne, Algona, Bancroft, Swea City, Lakota, Sexton and Wesley before returning to Livermore for food, a live auction and music from the Ned Freeley Funn Band.

How to help

Donations to the Support Our Veterans Ride can be sent to 1046 Highway 169, Bode, IA 50519.

If you want to donate an item for the auction, call Sue Fevold at 515-368-0248.