Almost 180 motorcyclists took to the streets of Wagga on Saturday as part of the annual campaign to donate Christmas gifts to hundreds of families in need.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
With the support of fundraising, sponsors, barbecue sales and raffles, the Wagga Toy Run will ensure children from about 500 families across the region don't miss out on Christmas morning.
A convoy of two and three-wheeled vehicles left Jubilee Park on Saturday morning for a 90-kilometre ride around the city, including a breakfast stop at Lake Albert's Apex Park.
The ride culminated in a procession down Baylis Street to the Civic Centre, where the toys were presented to the Salvation Army and St Vincent de Paul Society.
Wagga Toy Run coordinator Pat Combs said riders made the most of perfect weather for the event.
"We start fundraising in about June and July and we start spending money buying toys," Mr Combs said.
"The donations have been brilliant this year and we have some very good sponsors in Ron Crouch Transport, the Commonwealth Bank, Junee Correctional Centre and the Wollundry and Sunrise Rotary Clubs."
The St Vincent de Paul Society's St Clare's Care and Support president Robyn Thurston said the toy run also helped put together about 400 hampers for isolated or homeless people at Christmas.
"It's a wonderful community initiative. The community, as always, has been very generous," Ms Thurston said.
"We are going to start delivering to people who have ordered toys on the 22nd of December.
"We are still looking for gifts for teenagers, boys and girls aged 13 to 15, perhaps puzzles or nice toiletries or gift cards.
"It's a difficult age to buy for; we have a lot of toys for little children."
Among the truckloads of purchased toys were a collection of handmade wooden trucks, doll cribs, easels and dinosaurs that are donated every year by Glenfield Park's Vince Salan.
Salvation Army emergency services senior team leader Sharon Jones has been working with the toy run for the past six years.
"We divvy the toys out; half to Vinnies and half to Salvos," Ms Jones said.
"It would be a pretty sad thing to have Christmas without any presents."
Salvation Army corps officer Kara Hartley said the toy run was part of a program to help disadvantaged families plan and provide for Christmas.
"We have the families make an appointment and they come in and choose their toys for their children," Ms Hartley said.
"They take them and wrap the toys themselves so it empowers them.
"It also encourages them because they don't want to be in this position next year. It encourages people to think about how they can save for the end of the year and what goals they can make.
"We invite them to a Christmas dinner as well. It's that continued care, not just about the gift giving but supporting them as a family as well."
Wooden toys made by Junee Correctional Centre inmates and donated prizes were also raffled off at the end of the toy run to help raise funds for the next event.
Mr Combs said "99 per cent of the donated toys would go to the local area".