Vendetta Motorcycle Club gives kids school supplies
The Powell Vendetta Motorcycle Club gave backpacks, school supplies and other help to Claxton, Lake City and North Clinton elementary schools.
The club hosts a ride party to raise money for backpacks and school supplies for children in grades kindergarten through fifth at Claxton Elementary School, usually enough for 10 children in each grade: five girls and five boys.
“We just know that times are hard for people,” club Ppresident Robert Arwood told The Courier News. “It’s embarrassing for kids if they ain’t got what they need.”
This year the ride took place on Saturday July 11. It started at Biker Rags in South Clinton.
Participants rode through Clinton into Rocky Top, turning at Weigel’s and riding across Norris Dam.
They then took Norris Freeway and Racoon Valley Road back to their clubhouse on Gadsden Town Road in Claxton.
The backpacks’ contents, Arwood said, depended on the grade level, with Anderson County Schools providing the list. They included items like calculators, markers, notebooks and pens. The club gave miscellaneous supplies for teachers and students at LCES and NCES.
The club also raised $3,000 for supplies and $1,000 for a general fund for Claxton to further help students with clothes and supplies.
Over 11 years, the club raised $15,000 for this project assisting schools.
“I don’t know how much the students know it comes from us,” Arwood said of the student receiving the backpacks.
Still he said, parents had approached Vendetta Club members at stores thanking them.
Anderson County Commission unanimously approved a resolution honoring the Vendetta Motorcycle Club. Commissioner Tracy Wandell, who represents Claxton read the resolution honoring the group at Anderson County Commission’s meeting on Aug. 17. He stated since 1973 the club had a “strong active and enduring” commitment to serving the Claxton community through charitable efforts.
Regarding what drives him to head a motorcycle club, Arwood said he grew up around motorcycles due to his uncle and always wanted to be around them.
Anyone who wants to be a sponsor of next year’s ride party for Claxton the can reach out on the Facebook Page for Vendettas annual Backpack ride or call 865-603-8645 to reach Robert.
