Every year, more than 130,000 children receive toys from The Salvation Army at Christmas. Distributing the toys is a huge undertaking carried out by thousands of officers, employees and volunteers at community and family services offices across the territory. Gathering the toys that will bring smiles to young faces on Christmas morning is an equally gigantic task. Throughout September and October, many groups organize events to encourage their members to donate toys and cash to the Army’s Christmas ministries. Here are just a few examples that give new meaning to the phrase “toy drive.”

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The Vancouver Island Mustang Association and the Canadian Classic Chevelles and Beaumonts car club met on a sunny Saturday in Victoria to support the community and family services campaign. Seventy vehicles and 150 participants lined up in the parking lot at the University of Victoria and headed toward Sidney. Salvation Army staff provided hot dogs and coffee to the generous participants who donated cash and more than 400 toys.

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In Saskatchewan, 1,200 riders from the Regina Motorcycle Association Inc. on 700 bikes gathered for their 26th annual toy ride. Participants of all ages, from great-grandparents to an 18-month-old child of one of the riders, gave 3,000 toys and $2,800 for needy children in that city. Major Len Millar, assistant director, public relations and development, Prairie and Northern Territories Division, was pleased with the response. “I have met some wonderful people who have gone out of their way to participate,” he said.

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Members of the Red, White and Blue Knights, a motorcycle club for motorcycle-riding enthusiasts in local police, fire and paramedic units, gathered at Nathan Phillips Square in Toronto for their 30th annual toy ride. The group presented the Army with more than $4,000 in cash and toys for the city’s neediest children.

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The Concerned Motorcycle Riders of Huronia marked their 25th toy ride in Midland, Ont. Nearly 500 riders contributed $6,000 and a mountain of toys to be distributed to 350 children in their town of 16,700. Peter Thomas, community and family services director, thanked the participants, saying, “You’ve made a huge impact on our little area.”

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Organizers in Sydney, N.S., were pleasantly surprised by the response of local motorcycle riders. They had expected 150 to participate in their annual event, but approximately 425 riders on almost 200 motorcycles arrived to begin the day. They filled the parking lot of Sydney Community Church and gave some concern to organizers, who wondered if they would have enough food for everyone. In the end, all were fed and enough toys to fill the Army’s van were received. Major Daniel Roode, corps officer, said, “We really appreciate this because it helps to kick off the public’s awareness of the work that The Salvation Army does to help children and families at Christmas.”

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More than 400 members of the Gold Wing Road Rider Association donated almost 1,000 toys to the St. John’s, N.L., community and family services this fall. Army staff were on hand to receive the donations from the annual Toys for Tots motorcycle run.

Photos: 1. Members of the Gold Wing Road Rider Association present The Salvation Army with toys for children in St. John’s, N.L.; 2. Mjrs Daniel and Glenda Roode, COs, Sydney CC, N.S., display some of the toys donated by the Cape Breton Free Wheelin’ Association; 3. Young volunteers from Midland, Ont., pose with toys donated by the Concerned Motorcycle Riders of Huronia; 4. Red, White and Blue Knights filled Toronto’s Nathan Phillips Square in support of needy children; 5. Motorcycle riders from the Regina Motorcycle Association contribute to its most successful toy run; 6. Vintage car owners in Victoria get into the spirit of the season for the Drive for Santa toy run