Mid-Cal Cycle Toy Run
West Sacramento

~ 29NOV14 ~

Saturday, November 29th (1st Saturday following Thanksgiving) was NOT such a beautiful sunny day - in fact, it was a dreary rainy day in the middle of a west coast storm that lasted for days, and yet, these real troopers showed up to give support to this event which benefitted veteran's families.

But lets back up a year or so. Mid-Cal Cycle of West Sacramento services various makes of motorcycles, especially Harleys and BMW's, and, services the motorcycles of several police departments in the greater Sacramento area, including the West Sacramento Police Department, and, in so doing so, conversations with the motor officers gave birth last year to the idea of a ride to celebrate collecting unwrapped toys, non-perishable food, and, donations to benefit the West Sacramento Police (WSPD) Food and Toy Drive, and, and the ride was a BIG success last year. Now, fast forward to about a month ago or so: during the four fast weeks that preceded the toy run, friends and supporters put up flyers in local businesses and distributed Christmas paper wrapped boxes at various collection locations.

Riders began arriving at 9AM to Mid-Cal Cycle bringing more toys and food and were greeted by a sign-in table and found event t-shirts printed by Anthony of screenprintersink.net for sale (profit benefiting the WSPD food and toy drive), found donuts [ummmmm yum] and Starbuck's coffee [donated by Starbucks - allllright!].

The bikes, followed by a string of cars left the shop at 10AM in a light rain; my wife, fair weather rider that she is drove her car, but I rode (shotgun). The first run stop was the West Sac Sports Bar & Grill (formerly The Goose Club) on Jefferson for some socializing. Directly the group left in a steady drizzle and rode out the river road to the Elkhorn Saloon and Country Bar & Grill for more visiting. The next stop was the Mecca Club on Sunset Avenue, and lastly to Vince's Italian Ristorante on Harbor Boulevard.

The second following Monday, the pickups from local collection locations completed, the collected cash (over $2,600.00!!!), lots of food, three bicycles and two truck loads of toys were provided to the West Sacramento Police Department. Many local businesses donated cash, many sponsored their logo on the ride t-shirt for $100, and many were toy and food collection locations. Some of the cash is used to purchase warm clothes from Old Navy so that each child may receive two toys and a set of warm duds. Some of the stuffed animals and toys collected are destined for distress situations and are carried in the trunks of patrol cars for when they show up at a residence and find kids without sitting on the curb. Names of children in need, especially children who have a parent deployed, were collected from the Veterans of Foreign Wars Hall and from local churches and schools. Families are contacted to plan the distribution and provide and set up a Christmas tree and ornaments if needed. Then, around the 22nd of December, a string of WSPD patrol cars are loaded and leave to distribute the merriment. Great ride, great cause - put it on your calendar for next year - do it now... suspect it will be the first Saturday after Thanksgiving day.

KNUCKLEHEADS FOREVER!

article by Russell "Raz" Holder, photographs by Russell "Raz" Holder