BOWLING GREEN, Mo. — A motorcycle club has put a little vroom into the Angel Tree program overseen in Pike County by the not-for-profit North East Community Action Corporation (NECAC).

Brotherhood of Bikers bought gifts for six Angel Tree families and shopped for many others Dec. 11 at Walmart in Bowling Green.

“Having grown up riding motorcycles, I know how kind-hearted bikers are, so this was something heartwarming to see,” said NECAC Pike County Service Coordinator Penny Dixon. “It enabled us to fill the gap to be used on other Angel Tree gifts.”

The motorcycle club is based in Summer Hill, Ill., but has members in Missouri. It spent $4,200 on Christmas gifts for disadvantaged people in the twin Pike counites, about double the amount compared with last year. The money came from raffles and other fund-raisers.

“If it weren’t for the people of both Pike counties, we wouldn’t be able to do this,” said Brotherhood of Bikers President Jim Heatherly. “We really appreciate it.”

The club is self-funded, so all money from fund-raisers goes directly to organizations chosen by members. Recipients in the past have included veterans and nursing home residents.

NECAC, Walmart and the Salvation Army sponsor Angel Tree. Shoppers at Walmart were able to select a tag and buy the gifts listed. The tags did not identify recipients, but did have ages and gift requests. Parents or guardians were required to register their children by making an appointment at NECAC.

“The tags flew off the tree as soon as they were put on, so that shows how awesome our communities are when giving,” Dixon said.

Heatherly says the non-profit club hopes to increase its contributions in 2022. “We’re growing quite a bit,” he said. “Each year, it gets better and better.”

The last day for Angel Tree was Dec. 15, but NECAC will review unmet needs and see what it can do. More information is available by calling Dixon at 573-324-2207 or making an appointment at the NECAC Pike County Service Center, 805 Business Highway 61 in Bowling Green.