Riders, passengers and carloads of people arrived at the Frank W. Mayborn Civic and Convention Center for the 12th annual Bell County Community Toy Run, and a well-earned lunch.
For a fee of $10 or a toy of equal value, bikers from all over Bell County were invited to participate in the annual toy run held by the Fort Hood Harley Owners Group (H.O.G.).
The day started at Fort Hood Harley-Davidson at Harker Heights with a one-minute silence for remembrance of fallen soldiers and those presently serving soldiers.
Kristi Carroll, secretary of the Fort Hood H.O.G. chapter, said that between 1,200 and 1,400 people turned up today.
“It takes all year to organize ideas for today’s event, but the last three months is nonstop,” Carroll said.
Funds raised this year, after expenses, will be shared between Peaceable Kingdom Retreat and Santa’s Workshop on Fort Hood.
Peaceable Kingdom Retreat serves in excess of 6,000 chronically ill children and children with special needs, annually, as well as their families. The retreat is free of charge and without regard to race, religion or ability to pay.
“It’s a place where kids can be themselves without being in hospital, although they have all the necessary facilities. It is like a summer camp,” Carroll said.
“Santa’s Workshop is for the families in the military that are lower ranking and can’t afford Christmas. They organize it so families that can’t afford Christmas gifts for their kids can go in and pick out toys for free,” she said.
Keith Hall, director of Fort Hood H.O.G. chapter, said “We actually sponsor the event but the Temple chapter always supports us.”
“Today we had about 120 volunteers, but there are about 30 ‘business planners,’ as I call them. They are the ones that get everything organized before today. We always need extra hands on the actual day,” he said.
“We spend quite a bit of time with the kids out at Peaceable Kingdom in Youngsport, they have classes out there, a theater, cabins to stay in, it’s great for kids,” he said.
“We expect to raise over $8,000 today, that always makes us happy. Raising the money and having everyone arrive safely is the highlight of a day like today,” he said.
“We can’t thank the police enough for their assistance, they block off roads and escort us. There is no way we could move 606 bikes safely through traffic without them,” he said, “that’s why we present them with a collector pin every year.”
Silent raffles and an auction of items donated by local businesses and people also assisted in raising today’s funds.
tcooper@temple-telegram.com
