Motorcycle group helps those in need

By Sean Barron

Tough economic times have exacerbated many people’s hardships this year, one member said.

YOUNGSTOWN — For the Morales family, being part of the Youngstown Chapter of the Latin American Motorcycle Association is truly a family affair.

“It’s a bunch of wonderful guys who love to ride and help the community,” said Lisa Morales of Canfield, holding her 15-month-old granddaughter, Mia.

So it’s no wonder that Morales and several relatives found themselves at Saturday’s fourth annual Boots, Bikes & Big Wheels Thanksgiving fundraiser, set up mainly to raise money for less-fortunate families and children.

The six-hour event was at the Organizacion Civica y Cultural Hispana Americana, 3660 Shirley Road on the city’s South Side.

Reaching out to the community also was on the mind of Morales’ son, Joshua, of Austintown, a four-year LAMA member.

The group enjoys going on rides and being on hand for those less fortunate, said Joshua, who came with his wife, Tiffany.

Lisa Morales’ husband, Robert, is LAMA’s treasurer and a founding member.

A few hundred members of the organization and others paid $10 per ticket to attend the program, which featured food, door prizes, a Chinese auction, a disc jockey and a 50/50 raffle.

Proceeds will go toward helping people in the area who are struggling financially, a situation that’s compounded this year for many families because of the poor economy, explained Angel Cruz, president.

Close to 60 local businesses and individuals donated to the effort, Cruz noted.

Even though he’s not part of LAMA, J.R. Blakeman wanted to do his part to help the community, as well as OCCHA, which he said “gives kids a place to do constructive things” and stay out of trouble.

Blakeman, a Mahoning County deputy sheriff and member of the Harley Owners Group of Youngstown, said his motorcycle club and LAMA support each others’ efforts.

The local LAMA chapter has five officers and roughly 40 members, and performs two major fund-raising events each year, as well as a variety of smaller ones, Cruz said.

Last year, LAMA raised about $5,000, most of which was used to buy a pool table and other items for OCCHA and help a local church host a Christmas party for children and families, he said.

LAMA has about 60 chapters in the United States and abroad, Cruz said.

Lisa Morales, Lori Mikolaj and several other members helped organize the auction and other facets of the program.