2nd Annual Toys for Tots Ride – Augusta, Georgia

A few days earlier, I came across one of the flyers about the Toys for Tots ride that was going to take place at the Harley-Davidson shop. I wanted to find out more about the Toys for Tots for myself so I checked their web site out. This is the time of the year that the Marines ask everyone to help by donating money and toys so they can help the kids have a merry Christmas. I have been hearing about the Marine Corps collecting toys for the last 50 years on TV. It dawned on me the other day that the Toys for Tots and I are about the same age. The toy drive was started back in 1947 by Bill Hendricks, USMCR and a Group of Marine Reservists in Los Angeles. The first year, Mr. Hendricks and his friends distributed more than 5,000 new and used toys. The 1947 campaign was so successful that the Marine Corps adopted Toys for Tots in 1948. Then the Corps expanded the Toys for Tots into a nationwide campaign. Christmas of 1980 the Marines started collecting only new toys to give out to the kids. The H.O.G. chapter of Augusta and the Marine Corps are sponsoring this event at the Augusta H-D. The Marine Corps by law cannot ask for donations or toys; only a representative like the Augusta H.O.G. chapter can ask on the behalf of the Marine Corps. When Saturday morning came I was on my bike and on the way.

Paul Brewer coordinated this event with the help of Bill and Ruth Garland, Teresa Lee, Mark Jackson and Joe Cote. The Augusta Marine Corps Reserve had five of its very best Marines on hand in their full dress uniforms. The following Marines help to load the toys into a big green military truck, PFC Renee Smith (Michigan), Pvt. Daniel Rimbey (Pennsylvania), Pvt. Rafael Millasaky (New Jersey), Sgt Scott Yonemora (Hawaii), Pvt. Nick Auvil (Illinois). These Marines are an example of the military personnel that proves it makes no difference what branch of service you are in or what country that you are stationed, military guys and gals will find a place in their heart for the kids that need help.

I talked with Paul Brewer 30 minutes before the riders started lining up. Paul told me that he had been involved with the Toys for Tots since 1968. My understanding is that he has been working with this toy run in Augusta for the last two years.

Mark Jackson, the road Captain of the H.O.G. chapter, gave a safety talk to all the riders before the ride. After the safety talk the pastor from Victory Baptist Church, Dr. R. Larry Brown, had a word of prayer for everyone to have a safe ride.

Saturday could not have been a better day for riding the back-roads of east Georgia along the border of Georgia and South Carolina. As the wind pushed the rain out of the area the sun slowly started to come out. All the riders didn’t like the cool air during the ride, but they thought at least it wasn’t raining. The leaves were a golden yellow and the wind was blowing the leaves off the trees and across the road. You could tell that the fall of the year would be soon be over and winter is just around the corner.

The 66 bikes and 18 passengers would begin at the H-D shop in Augusta. The ride would take the riders by some of the most scenic and historic locations in the state of Georgia. Washington, Georgia was the first gas stop and is noted for Jefferson Davis holding the last cabinet meeting of the Confederate States. Just a few miles north of Washington is one of the three temporary capitals of Georgia. The capital was moved in 1880 to Heard’s Fort from Augusta to keep the Indians from over-running the state capital. The halfway point was Elberton, which is known as the marble capital of the world. The final destination would be Indigo Joe’s Bar and Grill on Wheelers Road back in Augusta. Many of the bikers gathered around the fire pit on the patio to warm up and have a drink. Later the bikers went inside for lunch and to catch up on the football scores.

Paul was glad to announce that the H.O.G. chapter had raised $820 plus several boxes of toys. This is $200 more than the ride collected at this time last year. “Each year the Toys for Tots ride just keeps on growing," said Paul Brewer. I am glad to hear this good news because I know in the coming years as the ride grows more children will be helped. This year 84 were registered to ride the 160-mile road trip. This is one of those feel-good rides that make you feel good because you know at the end of the ride you have helped some child to have a happy Christmas. The real heroes during this bad economic time are not only the guys and gals in the military but also the bikers that take time to help the ones in need at Christmas. If you want more information about the Toys for Tots campaign or just want to help out next year go to their website at www.toysfortots.org.

By Tommy Pittard