Last modified: Sunday, September 14, 2008 5:27 PM EDT Motorcyclists and their friends hold hands during an interfaith service for the riders involved in Saturday’s Holy Roller Ride-A-Thon, which began and ended at the LaSalette Shrine in Attleboro. The event was held to boost the Attleboro Area Council of Churches’ soup kitchens and breakfast programs at area churches. (Staff photos by Martin Gavin) Riding for food BY STU SKERKER FOR THE SUN CHRONICLE ATTLEBORO - As the motorcycles zoomed off for a 50-mile ride, the residents of about 100 households should be able to smile a little bit, knowing that the riders on Saturday turned out to raise money for the Attleboro Area Council of Churches' soup kitchens and breakfast programs. The motorcycle run, which was called the Holy Roller Ride-A-Thon, had 16-bikers ride a 50-mile circuit through Attleboro, Norton, Mansfield, Foxboro, Plainville, North Attleboro, Attleboro Falls and South Attleboro before returning to the starting area at the LaSalette Shrine. Pam Bliss, the council of churches' fundraising coordinator, said that during the 50-mile circuit, each rider made 15 stops at area churches, and received pledges from those churches for donating different foods. As an example, Bliss said one church is pledging cans of soup, while another is pledging small containers of apple sauce, and another is pledging fresh fruit. Some of the churches on the route also provided refreshment stops for the riders. The breakfast program is delivered on Tuesday mornings to house-bound families that are unable to attend nightly soup kitchens that provide dinners six nights a week, Bliss added. She said the goal is to provide food that will last most of the week. Council of Churches Executive Director Dot Embree said the breakfast program provides food to a 100 households in Attleboro, with many more on a waiting list to get into the program. Embree believes that 70 adults and 50 children are being served by the program, and both she and Bliss said the need to help feed those in need is growing due to the economy. "The council is seeing an increase in demand in the soup kitchen program. More people are in need of help due to the economy," Bliss said. The Ride-A-Thon started began at 9 a.m. Saturday morning with registration, and included music from a local disc jockey, SoundSmith Productions of South Attleboro, and Kate Jackson, a candidate for state representative who faces fellow Democrat and City Councilor Bill Bowles in Tuesday's Democratic primary. Pastry and coffee were donated by local businesses. The morning also included a Blessing of the Bikes and Prayers of the Bikers, Bliss said. At the end of the 50-mile ride, riders received a barbecue dinner at the shrine, and they were able to participate in a silent auction. While the number of riders taking part in the Ride-A-Thon didn't meet expectations, Bliss said a number of the motorcyclists volunteered to work with the Attleboro Area Council of Churches to plan next year's event. She said a number of reasons could have cut down on the number of riders, including the weather - rain, heavy at times, fell overnight - the time of the year, and competition with other rides. Bliss said organizers hope to hold next year's event in late spring or early summer.