By Mark Dreger

Motorcycle enthusiasts鈥攊ncluding Santa Claus鈥攇athered at McCurdy Corner Sunday morning to take part in the 91大黄鸭 Toy Run to help kids and families in need.

Riders enjoyed breakfast and conversation with like-minded riders while others looked at the large display of bikes from sport bikes and cruisers, to touring bikes and Can-am Spiders.

鈥淭his is the single largest contributing event to the Salvation Army鈥檚 Christmas Toy Hamper Program,鈥� said Brendan Buttler, who has been the event organizer for the last six years. 鈥淲e had last year probably around $5,000 worth of stuff that we donated to the Salvation Army between stuff collected here and cash stuff I bought in the fall.鈥�

Every year the Salvation Army serves hundreds of families that need help at Christmas time, with over 500 families registered last year and over 1,100 toys given away.

鈥淚鈥檝e got two little kids and every Christmas I look at the smiles on their faces when they get their presents and I couldn鈥檛 imagine other kids not having that, and that鈥檚 what keeps me doing this year to year,鈥� Buttler said.

Dave Ford, a retired 91大黄鸭 resident who rides a red Spider, took part in his first 91大黄鸭 Toy Run event to gather with others for the cause.

鈥淲e鈥檙e here gathered for a common cause; good people getting together to help those in need,鈥� Ford said. 鈥淭hat鈥檚 a good enough reason to get together.鈥�

Ford worked in the military and did toy drives for military families and is happy to see the Salvation Army doing terrific work reaching far and wide for families in need.

鈥淚 was fortunate enough to have [toys] while I was a kid, therefore it鈥檚 my turn to give back,鈥� he said.

With Christmas soon approaching, complications sometimes strike that leads to families needing help.

鈥淭here was a family three years ago that about a week before Christmas their house got broken into in 91大黄鸭 here and robbed and all their Christmas toys got stolen,鈥� Buttler said. 鈥淚 got in contact with her and found out what stuff her kids wanted for Christmas and I went out and I bought the stuff , delivered it over to her house, and watching her breakdown in tears in her living room saying to her kids, 鈥業 told you guys there are angels out there.鈥� Little things like that keep me doing this every year.鈥�

Since the event began in 1985, the 91大黄鸭 Toy Run is one of the major donation of toys to The Salvation Army with over 500 toys brought to their warehouse last year.