NEW HAVEN, Conn. — The City of New Haven's "Rock to Rock Ride Day" has raised millions of dollars for the Elm City in many creative ways. Named for the route between the iconic East Rock and West Rock, the annual Earth Day event has a different theme each year. For 2021, it's "Save the Seas."
"We're focusing on health, we're focusing on environmental justice," said New Haven Mayor Justin Elicker.
Over 20 local, nonprofit organizations filled the Newhallville Learning Corridor park, all in an effort to make New Haven a healthier, greener community.
One of the vendors, Massaro Community Farm, an organic vegetable farm, urged people to come out and ride next month.
Those registered can cycle, walk or run across the region in support of their favorite nonprofit.
The ride will take place April 24th from 8 to 11 a.m. with ride guides leaving from Common Ground High School. To respect everyone's public safety needs, groups will be riding in waves.
"We do a family-friendly ride, a 12-mile ride, a 20, a 40, and a 60. And in order to keep everybody safe this year, we're going to starting in waves so we're excited to be able to come back together," said Caty Poole, executive director of Massaro Community Farm.
At Saturday's launch party, Poole encouraged people to eat seasonally, eat less meat, and eat food grown in your own climate zone.
"People have gotten so disconnected to where their food comes from and they don't realize that eating so much meat every day or eating food that's coming from outside the country is like putting a huge stress on our planet," added Poole.
Mayor Elicker spoke at the event and applauded the organizations' hard work.
"Nearly 2-million dollars raised over 13 years - so many more organizations and people involved. It is amazing what this has become," added Mayor Elicker.