Hundreds of cyclists will roll out from Montclair Bikery on Valley Road on Nov. 22 for the shop's 14th annual Turkey Ride, pedaling a 15-mile loop through town to buy and deliver turkeys to a local food pantry that says it has never served more people. Registration opens at 9 a.m., and riders are asked to chip in $22 toward a turkey before setting off for Kings supermarket, where they'll load up birds to haul back by bicycle and courtesy van.
The ride benefits the Human Needs Food Pantry, and organizers are hoping to draw 400 cyclists this year, according to Montclair Local. Last year's ride pulled in more than 350 riders who donated 1,400 turkeys, and over its 13-year run the event has collected more than 7,500 turkeys and raised over $340,000 for the pantry, per the same outlet. Cyclists are encouraged to register in advance through BikeReg, as TAPinto Montclair reports.
A Pantry Stretched Thinner Than Ever
Mike Bruno, executive director of the Human Needs Food Pantry, said the ride plays a direct role in making sure the pantry has enough turkeys heading into the holidays, noting it's about “helping ensure that we have enough turkeys for all of the people we serve,” per Montclair Local's report. TAPinto Montclair adds that Bruno has described the pantry as serving more people than ever, with demand for food assistance reaching unprecedented levels — a strain compounded, per that outlet, by climbing food prices and scaled-back SNAP benefits.
The numbers back up the pressure. The pantry now serves nearly 4,000 clients a month and had already distributed more than 800,000 pounds of food in 2026, valued at more than $600,000, the same local news organization reports. Founded in 1982, the Human Needs Food Pantry has provided food, clothing and other services to people across Montclair, most of Essex County and throughout New Jersey.
Statewide Hunger on the Rise
The strain in Montclair mirrors a broader trend across New Jersey. Food insecurity in the state nearly doubled between 2020 and 2024, with about 1.2 million people struggling to regularly afford food, according to New Jersey Monitor. By 2024, 13% of state residents could not always count on three meals a day, up from 7.4% in 2020, the outlet reported, citing the latest available federal figures.
The Monitor also notes that changes to federal food-stamp rules could push at least 47,000 people off the program entirely, according to experts cited in its report. Those pressures help explain why organizers describe the Turkey Ride as more than a feel-good tradition — it's become a meaningful source of holiday supplies for a pantry trying to keep pace with growing need.
Why the Bikery Keeps Riding
Dave Adornato, owner of Montclair Bikery, said the annual event inspires people to give while pushing his own shop to give back as well, per TAPinto Montclair's account. The ride has grown from a local charity gesture into one of the bigger community fundraisers on Montclair's fall calendar, gathering hundreds of cyclists each November for a cause that's become more urgent with each passing year.
Anyone who can't make the ride can still support the pantry with an online donation, and those looking to buy turkeys in bulk can contact the pantry in advance to arrange orders, Montclair Local reports. The pantry also accepts donation drop-offs every Tuesday and Thursday from 8 a.m. to noon, and on the second Saturday of each month from 10 a.m. to noon.
