Issue link: https://read.dmtmag.com/i/617259
6 nJanuary 2016n www.thunderpress.net by "Rambler" Steve Austin SAN JOSE, CALIF., DEC. 5—The defi nition of an armada is a large force or group, usually of moving things. In this case, these moving things would be motorcycles and an armada usually has a mission. The Coastside Armada Harley Club was started some years ago when the group members lived on the coast. As the group grew and members moved so did their distance from the coast and the bikes they rode. There are two additional chapters, Coastside Armada CenCal in Bakersfi eld and Coastside Armada SoCal in Ventura/ Oxnard. The starting point for the Coastside Armada Teddy Bear Run is an unusual one for a kids' run… Hooters in Campbell. Lance Leanza, one of the group's founders, and his dog Regi, a French bulldog, were in the parking lot loading toys into the back of Lance's truck. There was no cost for the run, but riders were encouraged to bring an unwrapped toy for the kids and Lance's truck was fi lling up quickly. One hundred teddy bears had also been purchased by the club for distribution to the kids. The group members had been involved in toy runs before, but they wanted to see the end result. About four years ago they put out feel- ers to several agencies and Family Supportive Housing seemed the most interested. The shelter caters to home- less families who need help getting back on their feet. That became their mission. They look for other causes as well. Lance said that a year and a half ago their club was involved in a run at Andy's Pet Shop in San Jose. Andy's is an adoption center for rescued ani- mals from local shelters. A pit bull mix that had been adopted in Southern California named Trig needed hip surgery, but the owner couldn't afford it. Among the three chapters, enough money was raised to cover the surgery. This day they had a Dutch lunch at Hooters before heading out. The group of about 50 bikes and 60 riders care- fully threaded their way through the San Jose traffi c, fi nally arriving at 1:00 p.m. to about 50 excited kids ranging in age from six months to 12 years. One boy yelled out, "It's motorcycle time!" All the kids were cheering. Every kid got a teddy bear and every- one wanted to sit on the bikes and get their pictures taken. The parents and bikers obliged with cell phones and cameras to memorialize the event. The toys were put in storage until next week when the parents will have time to pick out a toy most suited to their children. Christi Moyer-Kelly, commu- nity resource manager for Family Supportive Housing, said that the shelter has been in existence since the early 80's. They have 35 rooms and cater only to families that are homeless and have children. Most of the families who come here are either living on the street, in cars or are on the last few days of being able to stay with fam- ily or friends. The housing is funded through private donations and fund- raisers. The tenants pay $175 a month per family for everything, but they can only stay 90 days. There is a two-to- four-week waiting list. While they are staying the parents attend different classes on budgeting, parenting skills, resume writing and job readiness. In the meantime, they are connected to different community resources, housing searches and jobs. The whole purpose is to give them a leg up and get them back into a safe and stable environment. I talked with Eileen Sagala who is there with her two young children, Madison and Isabella. Eileen said that she had a place to live but after losing her last two jobs her life spiraled out of control over the last year and a half, and she fi nally ended up on the streets. She has a background in clerical work including payroll, sales and offi ce management. She has about six weeks left at the shelter and feels confi dent that she will be able to get back to a normal life. When you look at the number of homeless people out there, especially around this time of year, it's not hard to pass them up because you don't know them or their circumstances. Clubs like Coastside Armada and organizations like Family Supportive Housing really are trying to address those circumstances so that many of these people can get off the streets and get back into a normal life. Someone said a long time ago, "Give a man a fi sh and you will feed him for a day; teach him how to fi sh and you will feed him for a lifetime." The mission for both of these places seems to be teaching them how to fi sh. 4 7TH ANNUAL COASTSIDE ARMADA TEDDY BEAR RUN It's motorcycle time! Helping families in need The kids can't wait to get their pictures taken with the bikes Quite a crowd turned out for Coastside Armada's 7th annual Teddy Bear Run