Motorcycle group gives back to community

Six months ago, a tight group of motorcycle riders decided to take their passion and use it to give back to the community.

“We started with eight people, and it has grown to 42,” said Don Cox, president and one of the founding members of the Steel Horse Knights.

The name combines a reference to motorcycles and the Knights Templar, a group formed in the Middle Ages to serve and protect.

“It made sense,” said Tom McCausland, vice president and founder.

The club is a 501(c)3 nonprofit created to offer opportunities for motorcycle enthusiasts, or anyone interested in joining, to give back to the community. 

“We wanted to be able to help so many different causes,” McCausland said. “We were with different organizations that were focused on one cause. We have a lot of people who wanted to help many causes, so starting our own gave us the opportunity to actually have the members vote on and bring to the table more causes than just one.”

That way, he said, members could help veterans, children’s programs, first responders and anyone less fortunate who needs help.

“It’s not just veterans,” Cox said. “We wanted to expand to help families, children, the homeless and others in the community.”

Not all the members ride motorcycles, but those who do get a patch.

“We don’t differentiate between the two,” McCausland said. “We’re just a nonprofit organization that rides and helps out.”

The group has a governing board, and members bring them ideas that are then voted on.

Already, McCausland said, the group has donated to Child Inspired, a group focused on speech therapy and other children’s needs, and Courageous Hearts, an organization that helps veterans through equine and animal therapy. They’ve also donated to the Indian River Fire Company, and donated turkeys and meals to the veterans home in Milford.

McCausland said they will continue to provide meals for families in need through the holidays, and members are planning an event in Salisbury to help the homeless there.

“Our biggest thing is whatever we can do to raise money to be able to help people in need,” McCausland said.

“We’ve done a lot in six months,” Cox said.

A lot of members donate time, money, and items, McCausland said. “I can’t even begin to tell you how much money we’ve actually put out of our own pockets,” he said.

Both men thank the sponsors who have helped out the nascent group – Charlie K’s in Ocean View, Delaware Electric Co-op, Parson’s Produce in Dagsboro, Big Oyster Brewery in Lewes, Smith Industries and Redner’s.

“We don’t turn away anyone who wants to help,” McCausland said, noting that since the organization is a registered 501(c)3 nonprofit, donations are tax-deductible.

Anyone interested in the group can visit its Facebook page at Steel.Horse.Knights and leave a message. A website is expected to be up and running by Jan. 1.

“They can go to Facebook and come to any of our events. We encourage it,” McCausland said. “Come meet us, talk to us, and see what we’re doing.”