Harrison County (West Virginia Toy Run almost ready to rumble

“In 44 years, we’ve made a lot of happy kids,” said longtime participant Jerry Hebb, “and we’ve never missed a year.”

The Toy Run will begin at South Harrison High School. From there, riders will go through West Milford, then up U.S. 19 and across W.Va. 98, taking the long version into Clarksburg through Buckhannon Pike and onto Joyce Street and then around the Robinson Grand Performing Arts Center, said event organizer Cara Hall.

With a police escort ,the long trip around Harrison County takes half an hour as generally more than 100 riders make it through each traffic light and intersection together, Hall said.

While it’s always fun to find an excuse to rev up your motorcycle, the real reason so many bikers will be on the road is to donate toys to children in need.

“The Toy Run is such a tradition and it’s still getting bigger and bigger every year,” Hall said.

Depending on the weather, the Harrison County Toy Run has had up to nearly 200 riders out at a time, Hall said.

Hebb will lead the pack of riders in a Santa Claus costume, but he says he won’t be the only one donning festive attire. Some people dress up as elves or the Grinch. Other bearded bikers will also dress up as Santa. However, they generally stay at the back of the pack, he said.

Hundreds of toys are collected for children whose parents don’t qualify for the Angel Tree or Shop With A Cop programs. Even so, the programs still struggle to provide toys to their children for the holidays, Hall said.

As a teacher at West Milford Elementary School, Hall can see which families are enrolled in various programs and which families may still be in need of assistance regardless of their eligibility status, she said.

In addition to children at West Milford Elementary, the Toy Run also benefits families across Harrison County who have children from birth to 10 years old.

The Toy Run also donates gifts to children involved with various Harrison County programs, including Healthy Grandfamilies, CASA and the Genesis Center for youth in crisis, Hall said.

Riders in the Toy Run collect many toy cars and trucks, puzzles, NERF guns, stuffed animals, baby dolls and Barbie dolls. One year, several bicycles were donated as well, Hebb said, but mostly basic small gifts are donated.

The event has a hard time collecting sports balls, Hall said. Sometimes if the organization has spare donated funds, she will buy footballs and basketballs or other popular items like toys depicting superheroes, she said.

Helping families and grandfamilies is important so those who are struggling can put money aside for groceries, utilities and medical bills, Hall said, as providing toys helps ease the financial burden of the holiday season.

Following the collection of donations outside the Harrison County Courthouse, riders are invited back to a chili social at VFW Post 573 in honor of longtime Toy Run supporter and a friend to Hebb and Hall, Fee Webb.

Anyone who doesn’t ride is still able to donate at one of five drop-off points at businesses around the county: Miley Legal Group, Out of the Box Highest Offer Sales, Ascent Engineering in Anmoore, RG’s Almost Heaven Harley-Davidson and Batton Hollow Winery, Hall said.

For those unable to make it out on Nov. 26, donation boxes will remain at their locations until the second week of December, Hall said.