KidSport reps in yellow shirts Nadine Ulrich, left and Corey Kyle, were thrilled to receive a donation of $16,105 on Saturday from the Bordertown Harley Owners Group toy run. On the left side of the cheque is chair Murray Getty with co-chair Chris Leibel on the right with other members on hand. Geoff Lee Meridian Source
The Bordertown Harley Owners Group (HOG) revved up this year’s fall toy run one more time to present cheques to youth-minded charities in time for Christmas.
Members of the toy run committee, chaired by Murray Getty, wheeled into the Sticks Billiards & Lounge on Saturday to hand out near-record proceeds of more than $69,000 in amounts chosen by sponsors.
“Oh, it’s great; we enjoy being able to help out the youth in the Lloydminster community,” said Getty.
“The need keeps going up and the price of everything keeps going up. It’s always good to be able to help out.”
The 11th annual toy run went ahead on Sept. 10 without a hitch.
“We had a good turnout and it was a good day for a bike ride,” recalled Getty.
Toy run co-chair, Chris Leibel, noted plans are already in motion for the 12th annual toy next year, with the date set for Sept. 9 and the venue to be determined.
Getty, meanwhile, reports the HOGs has roughly 65 members and are still going strong.
“The toy run is as popular as ever,” he said.
Each year, it earns the appreciation of beneficiaries such as the Lloydminster Catholic School Division (LCSD) which received a donation of $6,500 for their school breakfast program.
“It will help us a lot because provincial funding ebbs and flows,” said LPSD deputy director of education, Glenda Kary, who accepted the cheque.
She says what doesn’t change is students’ need for food.
“So we really use this money for breakfast programs at every school,” said Kary.
Brent Thomas, superintendent of education at Lloydminster Public School Division, was equally grateful for a needed donation of $6,500 to cover food programs for all K-12 students.
“Now more than ever, we’re serving our kids breakfast and lunch, too. We’re thankful for the donation to this because if kids are hungry it’s hard for them to learn,” said Thomas.
“This fills their bellies and gets them ready for the day.”
Jacqueline Weed, director of service delivery at Lloydminster Big Brothers Big Sisters, talked about how they will spend their $12,800 donation from the toy run.
“The amount that we receive from the toy run every year helps us to serve the kids as part of our programs,” said Weed.
She noted they are not doing any in-person programming right now, but are reaching out to more families than they have before virtually while promoting mentoring programs.
“We have our highest number of big brother and sister matches since before COVID, so we’re really excited. Every cent supports mentoring in our community and we’re really appreciative of it,” said Weed.
A total of $16,105 went to Lloydminster KidSport.
The group’s treasurer, Brent Kyle, told the audience Bordertown HOGs have been one of KidSport’s main donors for many years since he’s been on the board.
“It allows us to fund sport registration fees and equipment for kids ages 5-18 in the community and we really appreciate it and we hope it can continue,” said Kyle.
He anticipates they will finish this year funding about 150 applications for assistance, the most ever. That got a nod from board volunteer Nadine Ulrich who added a comment.
“With the increased cost of living and stuff, it will really go a long way to help kids in Lloydminster to play sports. We really appreciate it,” said Ulrich.
Other toy run donations included $12,850 for Lloydminster Community Youth Centre; $6,000 for Lloydminster Sexual Assault Services; $5,811.32 for 106.1 The Goat’s Christmas Wish and $2,500 for The Olive Tree.
