Cranksgiving is coming to Iowa City for the first time on Saturday. For those who have never heard of Cranksgiving, it’s not a support group for people whose Thanksgiving involves talking to relatives who are political cranks. The event, which started in New York City in 1999 and has spread nationwide, is a combination bike race, scavenger hunt and food drive to benefit local nonprofits.
Cyclists are given a manifest listing specific items and the grocery store (or checkpoint) at which each item must be purchased. Organizers suggest participants bring “around $20 to buy food and/or other necessities.” Those items will be donated to the CommUnity Crisis Services and Food Bank and Table to Table after the event.