Just for Fun Activities Guide

Gold Wing Road Riders Association - Texas Chapter G

Toy Run 

This event is coordinated with the local foster children's authority. The authority collects index cards from local foster families with the names of the foster kids on them listing 3 things they would like for Christmas. The Chapter gets the cards and members pick the one(s) they want. You should allow nearby Chapters to join with you in this event. Participating members get to go shopping for the chosen child and buy one gift on the list. They wrap the gift and attach the index card to the outside. The Chapter raises money during the year to buy toys for any child not sponsored by a member and to cover the party expenses.

The day before the Toy Run, members are busy polishing and decorating their bikes.  The toys are then delivered to a co-sponsoring hotel/convention center. Members decorate the ballroom with balloons and ribbons. Sometimes a chili lunch is held for the crews on this work day.

The morning of the Toy Run, everyone is at the hotel early finishing up the decorations and setting the table for the parties. Banners for sponsors are raised up over the entrances. All the riders in the Chapter slip away before the families arrive and meet up at a nearby shopping center. There they put on their elf costumes and the final bit of tinsel on their bikes. Meanwhile, the foster families arrive at the hotel and they enjoy major festivities including lunch, entertainers, clowns, face-painting, etc.

At the designated time, Santa (& Mrs. Claus) lead a parade of motorcycles on an escorted parade to the hotel. The kids are ushered outside the hotel in time to see the arrival of Santa and his helpers. They seem to like the police bikes with the flashing lights a lot. After parking, Santa leads the elves into the ballroom where the elves distribute the gifts to the kids. A couple hundred kids ripping open presents is a sight to see.

Foster kids often have no toys of their own. When they leave a foster family they have to leave the toys there. The thrill of owning a toy they get to keep is awesome.

 

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