Free GGS: Good Gaelic Souls A Biker Saga (G.G.S) by Pamela Murdaugh Smith Page A

goods. The food was donated to the local food banks. This was to help lower income families feed their children breakfast and lunch through the summer. Meals that they would have otherwise been served at school. The cash funds that came from the sale of food, drink and t-shirts during the show, would purchase grocery store or department store gift certificates to be given to struggling families whom the biker's came in contact with or heard about through others. Lastly, the percentage that the club recieved from local vendors, would help buy the supplies and pay for permits needed for the next benefit. This would be fortified by using the biker's annual club dues when necessary.
    The second Bike and Car Show of the year came in late fall. The same formula applied, except this time, the registration was one turkey or ham, and one box of traditional non-perishable holiday food items, to be given to local families struggling through the holidays. At this event, several local stores and bakeries would pledge a donation of holiday goodies and fresh vegetables for holiday gift boxes. Families would sign up for the gift boxes on the day of the event and they would be available for pick-up the weekend before Thanksgiving. There were also two local farmers that annually pledged a small portion of their late fall crops to the event. In this way, fresh items could be used for the Thanksgiving Dinner and non-perishables could be used at Christmas.  On top of that, several of the ol' ladies who were good at canning, would come in and preserve any fruits or vegetables that might have been left over after the last box was filled. This would be given to anyone who found themselves in need at a later date.
    The club also held an annual 'Battle of the Bands-Survival Benefit'. This helped local artist gain recognition and expand their fan base, while filling the area with good music. It also offered the local vendors another platform to sell their wares. Proceeds from this particular benefit went towards helping people who were victims of natural disaster or financial hardship. It also helped to replace clothing, household items and furnishings.  Since this was a two day event, it brought in a large amount of cash.
    The G.G.S were the only food, drink and t-shirt vendor's at their benefits. Everything else from leathers, jewelry, arts and crafts, sweet treats and novelty items were left to the locals, who would rent a booth space at the events. In the early years the club had asked for a 2% donation of all sales, to help support the community projects. Somewhere around the 5th year, the locals got together and agreed amongst themselves that a 5% donation was more appropriate. They had seen for themselves what the G.G.S. was doing to aid their community and were happy to support the effort. 
    Every summer they also held a large community yard sale. Through the year, locals would stop by the Clubhouse and drop things off that they no longer needed. These items would be stored in the warehouse out at the property until the event. Stax loved a good yard sale, and would spend the entire day going through all of the goodies on display. Slider was forever telling her, " Set it down lass, we got nary a space for it. " She would buy it anyway, and eventually she would gift the item to someone who admired it as much as she did. After the sale was, all leftover items would go back to the warehouse until they found someone in need. The G.G.S. was always in the middle of planning or holding an event, so there was always something for everyone to do. After the first several years, it began to flow and each event became easier to put together. Now, the dream was to host them on the new property with permanent facilities.
    Suddenly, Stax realized that she had been lost in deep thought and the table was silent. Both Samson and Strangler had left her to her thoughts and were quietly sipping their drinks, waiting for her to return to the world around her. Still