POUGHKEEPSIE, N.Y. -- With Thanksgiving quickly approaching, people in Poughkeepsie took to the streets to help gather needed food items for those in the community.

Riders braved less than ideal weather in Dutchess County to participate in Saturday's Cranksgiving event.

Organizers from SPOKE, a Poughkeepsie organization that promotes cycling, gathered at the Walkway Over the Hudson before biking to various shops throughout Poughkeepsie to purchase items that will be donated to Dutchess Outreach.

While the ride also teaches bike advocates in the area tips and techniques for being road safe, organizers say the main goal of today's ride is to help people in the community who are most in need.

"We know that one in four families in the city of Poughkeepsie is food insecure," said Emily Dozier, ride leader. "We know that there's a huge issue with poverty and food access within the city of Poughkeepsie. So this is just a little piece of trying to address that effort and really more about raising awareness among our local community about the issue of food insecurity in Poughkeepsie."

Spoke holds monthly donation rides to help benefit Dutchess Outreach - and the group plans to participate in next month's holiday parade and donate more goods for the organization.