Santa goes hog wild with toy donations

Motorcycle enthusiasts in the Okanagan made a special run to assist local families this holiday season.

Now in its 28th year, the Motorcycle Toy Run helped to deliver over $5,000 worth of donations to the Salvation Army to be distributed as Christmas gifts for children.

Harley Davidson employee Brendan Buttler has been a volunteer organizer with the event for the past four years, and used the over $3,600 worth of cash donations to purchase everything from e-Readers to basketballs.

An additional $1,500 worth of toys were strapped on to the back of bikes earlier this year in September and left with the charitable organization.

“I see the joy in my own children when they open their gifts,” said Buttler. “And knowing we’re helping other children to do the same makes it all worth it.”

The Salvation Army sorts and packs hampers suitable for a middle-class family income, and any surplus donations are rolled over to next holiday season.

While many of the Salvation Army’s donations come from third party groups and corporate sponsors, individual donations have been made possible through the Angel Tree program with children’s gift suggestions.