Local Freedom Riders deliver the goods

Every holiday season, the Libby Food Pantry distributes a large amount of their stock to our local community. 

Knowing that they start running incredibly low in commodities, the Freedom Riders, LoD - Libby Chapter decided to help by starting a food drive within the Libby and Troy communities to gather non-perishable foods to help restock the food pantry after the holiday season. 

Donation boxes were placed at the American Legion, Alpha pets, Carousel Roller Rink, Libby VFW, The Mint, Cabinet Mountain Brewery, the Pastime, High Spirits Liquor Store, the Fix Coffee Shop and the Silver Spur in Troy. RMV Auto also set up a donation box to join in and help with the efforts.

Between the collection boxes, direct donations and donations from members of the Freedom Riders-Libby Chapter, 1,271 pounds of non-perishable food were delivered to the Libby pantry Wednesday, Jan. 16. 

Freedom Riders LoD-Libby Chapter is a local, non-profit motorcycle riding club. Their mission is to host local charity events to support local kids and charities. Libby is one of two chapters in the state of Montana at this time with the other chapter being in Kalispell. There are other Freedom Riders-LoD chapters as well in North Idaho (Sandpoint) and Post Falls. 

In 2024, the Libby Freedom Riders chapter hosted the first “Bright Futures“ charity poker ride to raise money for local high school kids who are trying to fund a trip to Europe. Being the first year for this new event, it was a small but very generous turnout that managed to raise and donate $1,478 toward their goals.

This will now be an annual event held the first weekend every August and will work with local Libby public schools to find programs within the schools that are in need of help financially that are not supported through the school budget. They hope to expand to Troy schools in the near future to include them as well.

Also, in 2024, the Freedom Riders – Libby Chapter supported other local charity rides by providing road safety for the Our Kids charity ride and also participated and supported other local charity rides and runs. Members also traveled to Kalispell and North Idaho to support charity events in their chapters.  

There is a lot on the schedule for the Freedom Riders LoD- Libby Chapter for the 2025 riding season. 

Kicking it off will be a Hogs & Rods Poker Run thanks to The Igniters Car Club joining forces to raise money for Kootenai Pets for Life. The “Run for Pets“ will be Saturday, April 26.

Sign ups for this event will start at 10:30 a.m. at the Switchback Restaurant with kickstands up and hot rods fired up and ready to go at high noon. It will be a great day with lots of fun and prizes for all with proceeds going to support our local furry friends in need.  

For information on this event or to make a donation, contact Angel at 406-291-1908 or Diamond at 406-291-3558.