And this year, the Salvation Army Toy Run will be back to its old self.
The 2021 event in Moose Jaw will take place on Saturday, Sept. 18, with motorcycle riders gathering on Manitoba Street around 2 p.m. before heading up Main Street in a cacophony of awesomeness before gathering to drop off their new and unwrapped toys at the Salvation Army Church on Thatcher Drive.
Prior to 2020, the Toy Run had offered a chance for riders of all ages on all types of machines to gather and hang out at the Salvation Army after dropping off their presents. The spectacle of hundreds of motorcycles in the parking lot of the local church was something special, but nothing compared to the unbelievable pile of toys, games and everything else to help every child in Moose Jaw have a gift under the tree.
“It’s great to see the community come together and support such a great cause,” said Lt. Lester Ward with the Salvation Army. “No different than any other year, Christmas is a joyful time but it’s also a difficult time for many families and this is a chance for to help make it a little bit nicer.”
The pandemic took its toll last year, with both participants and donations slightly down compared to previous Toy Runs. Ward is hoping overall numbers will be back to normal this year, though, both with the gathering of riders and toy donations.
“Last year the numbers were down a little bit because of COVID and people unsure of what to do and what they could do when they got there, but this year we’re anticipating 200 bikes or more,” he said. “And even if they show up without a toy, they can give a monetary donation that will help us purchase toys for children during Christmas. We’ll accept anything that helps.”
Once the mass of stuffed animals, action figures and board games is gathered and sorted, the Salvation Army will follow a new format put into place last year: a Toy Shop will be set up in the Salvation Army Church hall, with toys separated into age and gender appropriate groups, and parents will be able to choose a selection of toys for their children for free.
“It was a main gift, then a couple smaller gifts and stocking stuffers,” explained Ward. “That gave them much so much dignity, because they felt they were contributing to their child’s Christmas, and it was welcomed so much that it’ll be the plan going forward.”
The Toy Run is just the beginning of a busy few months for the Salvation Army in the Christmas season: the annual Christmas Kettle campaign opens soon after, and the Salvation Army will once again be partnering with the Moose Jaw Warriors for their Teddy Bear Toss, which will take place on Dec. 11 when the Swift Current Broncos visit Mosaic Place.
“That’s something we’re really looking forward to as well, we really missed it last year,” Ward said. “We’re hoping the community will be just as generous in the past and help every child have a toy under the tree at Christmas.”
