Bikers United for Children to hold its 10th annual toy run Dec.12

In Meridian, a local non- profit organization is preparing for its 10th annual toy run, this weekend, collecting toys donations, to gift to a local community center to aid in its Christmas toy giveaway.

The Bikers United for Children non-profit will be holding its 10th annual toy run on Saturday, December 12.

Members of the community are encouraged to bring a new toy unwrapped toy, for a child between the ages of 2 to 12 , or a monetary donation, that will be given to the Wesley House Community Center for its “Christmas clearinghouse”, where they gift local children with four to five toys for the holiday.

The toy run will include a parade of motorcyclists from the surrounding area, and Santa Clause, who will ride through the city, collecting toys for the toy run. Beginning at the hilton garden inn at 10am , the group will depart at 1pm, riding through downtown Meridian, escorted by local law enforcement, until they arrive at College Park United Methodist Church.

“What I like most about it is, we’re giving back to our community. There’s children in need in our area. There’s families that can’t provide the things that they would like to provide for their children, and this is our way of rallying together in a common thing that we like, and that’s riding motorcycles, and with that we can bring a new unwrapped toy, donate that to the Wesley House, and the Wesley House takes charge of that, --- and makes sure that it gets to where it’s going to be used most,” said James Randall, co-chair for Bikers United for Children Toy Run.

“Its bikers from all over, we have different club affiliations involved that come in to be a part of this. Your everyday riders, people that just ride a couple of times a year, they always come in, to make this a big, big, presentation, and we appreciate it,” said David Kimbrell, Director for Bikers United for Children Toy Run. The event will take place rain or shine, as the non-profit hopes to collect between 800 to 1,000 toys, this year.

“It’s going to go on rain or shine, we’re expecting rain. We’re hoping, --praying not, but if it does, you can still come by and give a new unwrapped to, give it to us. We’ll make sure it stays dry, and then you can still be a part of the run behind us, and end up at the church,” said Kimbrell.

All toys and monetary donations collected from The Bikers United for Children Toy Run will be presented to the Wesley House Community Center.