Chicago Motorcycle Parade Surpasses Expectations with Toys for Tots Extravaganza

CHICAGO (WLS) — This Sunday witnessed a double dose of holiday cheer as thousands of generous motorcyclists and Jeep enthusiasts united for the Chicagoland Toys for Tots donation events in Lake County and the South Side.

Jeeps on the Run, in Lake County, orchestrated its annual Toys for Tots donation event, adding a unique flavor to the festive occasion. Meanwhile, on the South Side, the much-celebrated Toys for Tots Motorcycle Parade, recognized as the world’s largest, thundered through the Dan Ryan Woods Forest Preserve for the 40th consecutive year.

Residents like Shade from Worth reveled in the spectacle, exclaiming, “It’s great, it’s great. Nothing like the rumble of thunder!”

The parade, adorned with motorcycles adorned in vibrant lights, transported a bounty of toys destined for children in need. Lester Fortier, President of the Toys for Tots Motorcycle Parade, emphasized, “Every underprivileged child around Chicagoland should have a Christmas, don’t you think?”

Riders from across the nation braved the weather to participate in this annual tradition on the first Sunday of December. William Skip Boyd from Joliet remarked, “Everybody comes out. Guys, they don’t ride in the cold, they’d be at home. But, they come out for this, though.”

Kelly Doherty, a resident of Mokena, shared the heartwarming sentiment of the event, saying, “To see their appreciation and the amount of people that come out every year and stand on the sidelines in the bad weather, the good weather cheering you on, it really warms your heart.”

The dedication extended to meticulous toy selection by the “toy team” to ensure age-appropriate and interest-specific gifts. Scott Doolittle from Skokie proudly declared, “What did I bring? I brought a pile,” emphasizing the wide range of toys, from those suitable for 3-year-olds to engaging games for older kids.

Last year, the Toys for Tots Motorcycle Parade impacted 43,000 children in Chicago, and this year, the organization aspires to bring joy to even more young hearts. “Anybody that reaches out to us, we try to help no matter what we can do,” asserted Tom Dertz, Vice President of the Toys for Tots Motorcycle Parade. “There’s nothing written in stone to help a kid. We’ll do anything for a kid.”

source: https://abc7chicago.com/chicago-toys-for-tots-2023-motorcycle-parade-near-me/14136327/?fbclid=IwAR3MoPwRGE4-Y9XnPtbOkKVxL3cyba02ASxcRAGRgZhxr59rKRRyTCGcgFM

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