MARS — The Chaps for Charity organization will host its 11th philanthropic motorcycle ride with a “poker run” theme Saturday.

Event organizer Terry Liguori said the group typically chooses a different charity for children with special needs to benefit from their help each year.

This year’s donations will go to the Backpack Giveback program at Pressley Ridge.

“We’re trying to do a food drive as well,” Liguori said.

Liguori said she hopes each person who attends the ride will bring a non-perishable food item to donate to the Backpack Giveback program, which provides food for select students and their families who “may be struggling to find their next meal.”

The program is part of the Pressley Ridge organization, which specializes in educating students with mental, behavioral and emotional issues.

Last school year, more than 6,000 meals were provided through this program.

“We hope to raise as much as possible,” Liguori said. “When it’s not nice outside, you’re not going to get the riders.”

Liguori said she’s hoping for good weather to help the group raise even more than they have in previous years.

The ride will begin with registration, coffee and doughnuts from 10 a.m. to noon. From there, it will go to the Rock House on Route 8 for the “first hand” at poker. Then to Millerstown Inn in Chicora and to the county line along Route 422 for the second and third plays. The ride will end at the Saxonburg VFW post.

Liguori estimated that riders will reach the final checkpoint around 4:30 p.m., and dinner will be served at about 5:30 p.m., with a DJ for entertainment and raffle baskets to wrap up the evening.

Liguori said her group usually has about 200 people come out for these events. The most it has raised in past efforts was $11,000.

“We would love to raise $10,000 or more,” she said.

The donation to ride is $20 and $15 for passengers.

For more information, contact chapsforcharity18@gmail.com.