THERE are kids in the community that go without come Christmas time. Why should it be that way?
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It's a question being asked by the organisers of the Toy Run, who launched the annual ride of goodwill at the weekend.
The Toy Run - an event with a 25-year history of putting smiles on kids' faces - sees more than 200 motorbikes embark on a 80-kilometre round trip across the city collecting toys for the needy.
"There's a lot of kids out there that don't get a Christmas and we fill in the gaps," Toy Run Committee president Pat Combs said.
"Last year we had two empty utes ... they were chock-a-block by the time we finished."
Mr Combs was presented with a cheque on Saturday by representatives from Junee Correctional Centre and Ron Crouch Transport, kick-starting what he hopes is a flood of donations.
The toys are distributed by St Vincent de Paul Society and The Salvation Army.
"It's just something we do to give back to the community," Mr Combs said.
"There's no reason why this can't go on forever."
Mr Combs said donations would be accepted prior to the run at 2WG on Lake Albert Road and South Wagga Newsagency on Baylis Street.
Fund-raisers will be held at Home Base Centre on November 9 and at Wagga Marketplace on November 22.
The Toy Ride itself is on December 6 and allows households to drop off donations of toys as the motorbikes pass from home to home.