Bikers deliver toys for children in need

THUNDER BAY -- Bikers aren’t all bad.

In fact, most of them are pretty good. But they do get a bad rap from time to time, thanks to Hollywood and the occasional sensationalized headline.

On Saturday Thunder Bay’s motorcycling contingent showed just how much they care about their community, collecting toys for children in need at Christmas and delivering them to the Salvation Army’s Cumberland Street headquarters.

Mike Kopot, the spokesperson for the local Harley Owners Group, said the annual Toys for Tots ride is a way for riders to give back to the community.

“I think there’s an underlying feeling in the community sometimes that people who ride bikes are hooligans and really don’t care too much about society and conforming to rules and stuff like that, but I think it gives an opportunity for us to participate in the community,” he said.
“We recognize that there’s a need for children who don’t have a merry Christmas, so once a year we rally together.”

Kopot said about 100 riders, representing four or five riding groups, took part in this year’s rally.

Toys collected included basketballs and Star Wars stuff and of course, the traditional teddy bear.

“Everybody becomes friendly and goes out and shops and brings stuff in for the kids,” Kopot said.

Salvation Army captain Lori Mitchell, the organization’s executive director in Thunder Bay, said the 32nd annual Toys for Tots motorcycle ride was a success.

And it’s important, she added.

“There are a lot of families that are living pay cheque to pay cheque, a lot who are on social assistance and they just don’t have the means to give their kids a really great Christmas. We just want to make the world a little better, a little brighter,” Mitchell said.

“Every kid deserves to have a great Christmas and this group of people has come together to help make that happen for Thunder Bay.”