Successful bike run supplies toys for Christmas
BY DANIEL ARENS
Motorcyclists often gather together for various runs, but when the focus of their ride is the needs of children, wonderful things can happen.
In conjunction with American Bikers Aimed Towards Education (ABATE), bikers from around the region gathered together to travel through communities in McLean and Mercer counties. ABATE partnered with Krause’s SuperValu Market in Garrison, Washburn, and Hazen. Rick and Brenda Mattheis are the only full-time workers with ABATE in the area.
Bikers with ABATE this year collected several hundred toys, which are delivered at Women’s Action and Resource Center (WARC), Beulah, McLean Family Resource Center, Washburn, and Gifts from the Heart, Garrison. Although ABATE is a
national organization, each branch works independently.
“It’s all local, each branch does their own fundraising and work,” Brenda Mattheis said.
ABATE is working to set up boxes at the three Krause’s for toy collection, which will continue until early December. The collection, which only accepts new toys, will combine with toys collected from the toy run for children over the Christmas season. Toys are collected for kids 18 years old and younger.
WARC, McLean Family Resource Center, and Gifts from the Heart provide paperwork concerning basic information given to them from families of kids in need, although names are not included. Information includes gender, age, and the interests of the child. Residents wishing to support the cause can choose a kid and purchase whatever toys they wish and deliver them to their respective organization.
