ELLY GRIMM

   • Leader & Times

Fall may have just officially started on the calendar, but that has not stopped a few groups from thinking about the upcoming Christmas holidays.

The Harbingers Motorcycle Club and the local Knights of Columbus chapter are teaming up for a Toys For Tots Fundraiser that will be taking place Saturday, Oct. 17. Registration will start around 9:30 a.m. at the Knights of Columbus hall at 323 N. Kansas Ave., and the entry fee is a $20 toy. The first motorcycles will go out around 10 a.m. and the last ones will go out around 11 a.m., with a chili feed and raffle drawing taking place after the run at the Knights of Columbus hall.

Last year’s run was the first partnership between the Knights and the Harbingers, and coordinator James Starkey said it ended up being very successful.

“I felt last year was pretty good for our first year doing it, and we had a really good turnout. Of course, you always want more, and that's what we're hoping to do from year to year, we’re hoping to grow it and make it better,” Starkey said. “Hopefully, the weather cooperates like it did last year, last year we had really good weather for it – especially in the middle of October around this area, you never know what you’re going to get weather-wise. We’re going to do pretty much the same run we did last year out of town, but we also have a route planned in case the weather ends up not being good for us. We're looking at doing about 100 miles on the out of town run – last year, we only went about 50 miles and kept it kind of short because we didn't know what the weather was going to do or what kind of turnout we were going to have, and you always want to be cautious the first year you do something like this. But I was very proud of how last year went, and I hope we can build on that this time around.”

Starkey added he hopes to see a lot of donations for this year.

“It's for a great cause. Toys For Tots is to help children who might not otherwise have the brightest Christmas due to there being family struggles or whatever their circumstances are,” Starkey said. “I speak from experience with that because several years ago, my family and I were in a situation where times were really rough and we were struggling. I've worked all my life, but bills pile up and other expenses – my wife and children were sick, so there were medical bills and other bills that just kept coming, and that year, I was just not able to give my children the Christmas I thought they deserved. There was one day when some of the Knights and some other people showed up to my house with food and presents and some other items. Someone had put our names in because they knew we were struggling, and my children were able to have a decent Christmas that year. Having been on that side, it makes me want to give back, so this is a great chance. The economy’s rough right now and there are a lot of people out of work right now, so they need some help, and this is a great way to do that. Last December, me and one of my guys helped load up toys and deliver them to families, so I got to see those families firsthand and see the look on the kids' faces when we showed up with a bag full of toys. That alone made everything totally worth it.”

Starkey added there will be a chance for people to donate toys before the run.

“Oct. 3, Cory Barnett will be hosting a block party at Light Park and I and a couple of my guys will be there doing motorcycle rides for kids, like we do every year,” Starkey said. “We will have a box there that will be advertised that we will be taking toy donations for Toys For Tots. If you're not able to ride in the run, but you still want to donate and support everything that way, you'll be able to see us at Light Park Oct. 3. People can drop their donations off there, or just show up at the Knights of Columbus hall the day of and bring their toys then. And if people can’t find a time to take their donations to the Knights of Columbus hall, they can get in touch with me and either bring them to S&M Cycle Shop at 15 W. Pancake Blvd. or call me to pick them up, and I’ll take them to the hall myself so everything gets where it’s supposed to. And when it comes to the ride itself, quite frankly, we motorcyclists look for pretty much any excuse to ride and get in the wind. We have fun riding, but we're also more than happy to help out around the community and be there for people in need.”

With this being the second year of the groups’ partnership, Starkey said he is excited to see how things turn out.

“I'm excited for to see who comes back from last year. I always see a lot of familiar faces, and I'm excited to see any new faces,” Starkey said. “I always love when people tell me they heard about what we’re doing from one friend, who told another friend, and so on, so I'm excited just to see everybody. It's nice to see you know people take time out of their weekends to come out and help people they've never seen before and will probably never meet. This community's always been really good about that, they've always been really good about taking care of one another and helping out each other, and that's the excitement for me, seeing these people come out and willing to donate time and money and just being there for people. I'm excited to see everyone who turns out. Every time we do an event or have some type of get-together, I love seeing all the motorcycles and seeing that community support. To me, there's nothing cooler than seeing a parking lot just full of motorcycles – I see it all the time and it just makes my heart happy. It's great to see people coming out and supporting each other.”

Overall, Starkey said, he hopes for another successful event.

“If you're able to, come out and have a good time and have some good food,” Starkey said. “The Knights of Columbus will be doing some gun raffles again, and I know they have raffle tickets for that available. Donate a toy, get some good food, and you might walk away with a prize and maybe some new friends.”