Archive for the ‘Club News’ Category

Half-price sale brings in funds for Crisis Center

Published 12:00am Monday, September 15, 2008

Crowds headed to the Tallapoosa Christian Crisis Center to get bargains on clothes, shoes and household items.

All of the items at the center were on sale for half off, meaning people could get several items without spending a lot of money.

The crisis center had clothes for men, women and children. The center even had some wedding dresses for sale. Household items included decorations, blankets, lamps and furniture.

The money raised from the sale will be used to give families financial help and will go toward purchasing more food.

While the sale brings in money for the center, other groups around town are also working to help the Crisis Center.

Aliant Bank has started a food drive that will be held from Sept. 15 to Sept. 30.

Baskets will be set up at all three branches in Alexander City and Dadeville to allow individuals to donate food items.

Brothas Keepers Motorcycle Club and Campfire Girls are also working to bring in food for the center.

Group sets sights on juvenile diabetes fight

Published 12:00am Monday, September 29, 2008

A local organization broke out the suds and polished wheels, Saturday all for a good cause.

The Brothas Keeper Motorcycle Club spent the second of two Saturdays washing cars in the parking lot of Advance Auto Parts in Alexander City for donations only to support the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation.

Club president Fred White said the event was in partnership with the auto parts store to raise money to help find a cure for the disease and help the less fortunate families of victims of the disease with transportation to and from doctor’s appointments.

Booker Thomas. Advance Auto Parts store manager said the support for JDRF is something the store has done every September for years.

Thomas is not the only person who believes the cause is awesome, as White said the response from the community has been great.

Motorcycle Club donates food to Tallapoosa Co. Christian Crisis Center

Published 12:00am Wednesday, November 12, 2008

With the holidays right around the corner, it is important to remember others and that is exactly what one are group did,

The Brothas Keeper Motorcycle Club donated over 1,000 cans of food to the Tallapoosa Christian Crisis Center to help them feed the hungry this holiday season.

White said the club was able to purchase the cans for the center with money raised during the Oktoberfest. Club members also chipped in with cans from home.

Marilyn McCary, director of the Tallapoosa Christian Crisis Center said with plans to help feed 250 families for Christmas and giving out more than 300 pound of food per day now, the donation from the BKMC will help accomplish that feat.

The center is still looking for donations now and are accepting financial donations and donations of food. McCary added that this community always steps up to help.

McCary said the center is still signing up families for Christmas meals until Nov. 20 and groceries will be delivered on Dec. 16 and 17.

Charitable donations meet area’s requests

Published 12:00am Sunday, January 4, 2009

Several area charities collected money and gifts for the needy during the 2008 holiday season. Now, the totals are in.

Some charities received lower donations and some received higher donations than last year, but they all say returns were good considering the weekend economy.

The Salvation Armys newly appointed director, Susan Hardy, said she thought giving was strong considering the pinch the economy has put on area residents pocketbooks.

The charity’s annual bell ringing campaign was seen at more locations than ever before with the campaigns expansion to Dadeville but giving was down when compared to last year.

But giving a lot or not, the motive for helping those in need was the same as it is every year.

Brothas Keeper is a local Motorcycle Club with a focus on giving to the community. They encourage youth and raise money for the needy.

The club partnered with Mama Ellas Restaurant to provide over 100 families with food and household items. The club also donated $300 worth of toys and a $200 check to the Alabama Department of Human Resources for their Toys for Tots program.

The economy drew more people to seek help from charities 2008 than in 2007 so a person in need is not hard to find, and organizations across the county felt the publics need this year.

Organizers at the Tallapoosa Christian Crisis Center said the number of people requesting money for food was about the same as those requesting help in years past, but the number requesting gifts for children more than doubled.

Fifteen volunteers and eight employees passed out grocery bags with 8,000 pounds of food for Christmas meals, and also collected Christmas gifts for 183 children.

Although the charity saw an increased need this year, Marilyn McCary, director of the center said, they were able to help everyone who came to them because people in the county donated generously.

‘Brothas’ help residents

Published 12:58am Thursday, September 3, 2009

Some local residents will be able to beat the heat in September thanks to a donation from the Brothas Keeper Motorcycle Club, LLC.

Brothas Keeper Motorcycle Club is a non-profit organization that donates money, goods and volunteer hours to numerous charities each year. The club donated 150 box fans and 150 cases of water to older residents in Tallapoosa and Coosa counties in a giveaway called Operation Cooling Water.

“We knew some of the elderly might have problems at times as far as paying for utilities,” public relations officer Demetrious Harrell said. “They can’t just run the air year round.”

The idea first came up at a meeting in July. The group had car washes and raised money to pay for the donations. All 16 members and other volunteers, including their children, helped distribute the fans and water Aug. 15.

Residents in both counties received donations. The Goodwater Senior Citizens Center and the Camp Hill Senior Citizens Center also received fans and water to distribute to their members.

Shirley Smoot, manager of the Goodwater Senior Citizens Center, gave away water to 58 people and box fans to eight members. Some members don’t have air conditioning or can’t afford to run it constantly.

“Some of them were in tears when they go it,” Smoot said. “At least they can have cool air in one room with the fan.”

The recipients of the fans and water were appreciative of the donations, especially since they were delivered a month early.

“Everyone we delivered to was appreciative,” Harrell said. “It was very positive.”

The club’s 16 members hail from Tallapoosa and Coosa counties, and all share a love of motorcycles.

“We all come from different walks of life, but one thing we have in common is riding bikes,” president Fred White said. “We do charity rides and that sort of thing.

Many of the members are also law enforcement officers or have served in the military.

“Police officers kind of look after each other, the military too,” said White, who is a Narcotics Task Force investigator. “We’re a non-profit organization and we love helping folks.”

The club will have a booth at Oktoberfest with games and give-a-ways for childre

Motorcycle club donates to kids

Published 9:38am Thursday, December 24, 2009

R.C. Darby of the Brothas Keeper Motorcycle Club remembers the feeling he had as a child on Christmas morning.

It was memories like that one that drove the club to donate their time soliciting donations and giving money to help the Tallapoosa County Department of Human Resources with its Christmas program to give toys to children in need.

“It’s always good to help someone, but it’s special to help kids,” Darby said. “It always puts a smile on your face when you can help them.”

The club’s donation of toys Monday is designed to help between 50 and 100 children age 12 and under throughout Tallapoosa County, according to DHR employee Danielle Parris. The toys would be distributed first to children in foster care and protective services before being distributed elsewhere.

“I have no clue what

we would without help like this,” Parris said of the donation. “We depend on groups like this.”

The motorcycle club and its 12 members finished its third year supporting the Christmas program. The program is one of many the club participates in throughout the year and the group holds several car wash fundraisers and raffles to support its causes.

“We probably have three or four big events each year, but this is probably the biggest,” member Don Parrish said. “We are primarily focused on Tallapoosa and Coosa counties because that’s where the members are from.”

The club raised enough money to buy between 400 and 450 toys for the children involved in the program, according to club vice-president Anthony Hart. The club did not use a list to pick out the various toys, but did split the bounty 50-50 between toys for boys and girls.

‘Brothas’ help residents

Some local residents will be able to beat the heat in September thanks to a donation from the Brothas Keeper Motorcycle Club, LLC.

Brothas Keeper Motorcycle Club is a non-profit organization that donates money, goods and volunteer hours to numerous charities each year. The club donated 150 box fans and 150 cases of water to older residents in Tallapoosa and Coosa counties in a giveaway called Operation Cooling Water.

“We knew some of the elderly might have problems at times as far as paying for utilities,” public relations officer Demetrious Harrell said. “They can’t just run the air year round.”

The idea first came up at a meeting in July. The group had car washes and raised money to pay for the donations. All 16 members and other volunteers, including their children, helped distribute the fans and water Aug. 15.

Residents in both counties received donations. The Goodwater Senior Citizens Center and the Camp Hill Senior Citizens Center also received fans and water to distribute to their members.

Shirley Smoot, manager of the Goodwater Senior Citizens Center, gave away water to 58 people and box fans to eight members. Some members don’t have air conditioning or can’t afford to run it constantly.

“Some of them were in tears when they go it,” Smoot said. “At least they can have cool air in one room with the fan.”

The recipients of the fans and water were appreciative of the donations, especially since they were delivered a month early.

“Everyone we delivered to was appreciative,” Harrell said. “It was very positive.”

The club’s 16 members hail from Tallapoosa and Coosa counties, and all share a love of motorcycles.

“We all come from different walks of life, but one thing we have in common is riding bikes,” president Fred White said. “We do charity rides and that sort of thing.

Many of the members are also law enforcement officers or have served in the military.

“Police officers kind of look after each other, the military too,” said White, who is a Narcotics Task Force investigator. “We’re a non-profit organization and we love helping folks.”

The club will have a booth at Oktoberfest with games and give-a-ways for children.

6/17/2010

Published 8:47pm Thursday, June 17, 20

Dozens of motorcycles crowded the parking lot of G-Plus Computers Wednesday evening as the Brothas Keeper Motorcycle Club hosted its first ever Bike Nite.

Fred White, president of the Brotha’s Keeper Motorcycle Club, said the inaugural event was held to raise money for The Breast Cancer Research Foundation.

“This summer we’re going to do breast cancer – kind of stay focused on that – then we’re going to rotate it around probably in early fall and focus on something else,” White said.

Rod Spraggins rode from LaFayette on his 2005 Campagna T-Rex to attend the event.

“I’m in the bail bond business and some of the guys from the police department wanted me to come up and show it to them,” Spraggins said. “And, I lost my sister this coming January three years ago to breast cancer … it’s a good cause.”

White said he was pleased with the turnout at the event and with the variety of bikes, which in addition to the T-Rex included cruisers, sport bikes and Italian bikes.

“We’ve got some hot, exotic motorcycles out here,” White said.

Food and drinks were available at the event and prize drawings were also held as visitors mingled with members of the motorcycle club andchecked out the selection of bikes.

“I think we’re getting together for a great organization that needs every little bit of help the community and anybody else can give to them,” said attendee Lynne Allen.

“We enjoy what we’re doing and why not hang out and do it for a great cause,” Deborah Welcher added.

White said Brothas Keeper was formed in June 2007 by a group of like-minded friends.

“We wanted to take the negative spin off motorcycles and clubs or whatever – take that gang aspect away from it and do something worthwhile in the community,” White said. “Since then we have donated not only just money but our time and efforts to numerous charitable organization around here – the Children’s Hospital in Birmingham, Juvenile Diabetes Foundations, Red Cross, Toys for Tots – all kinds of stuff.”

White, who works as an investigator with the Tallapoosa County Narcotics Task Force, said the members of Brotha’s Keeper come from a variety of walks of life.

“It’s just what we do,” he said. “It’s a lifestyle – Two wheels, one love.”

The group is planning to have a Bike Nite every other Wednesday, according to White.