Saturday's Toy Run grows each year
The start is at a different location, but the end result is the same: a helping hand for needy Marion County families.
This year's Marion County Toy Run is set for Saturday. But the processional of cars, motorcycles and trucks has been bumped a block east, from the Marion Ampride to the Marion Eastmoor United Methodist Church.
The caravan will start rolling west at 1 p.m., and it ends in Hillsboro at the Hillsboro State Bank. All types of cars and moving vehicles are invited to join the group, said Ron Funk, coordinator of the Toy Run.
This is the county's ninth Toy Run, and it's gotten bigger each year, Funk said. After three years, it didn't have more than five businesses sponsoring the event. Now, more than 50 county businesses are involved, according to a "thank-you" ad the group ran last year.
The Toy Run helps needy families of Marion County with donations of food and toys. Volunteers in the caravan from Marion to Hillsboro bring toys with them and deposit them at a Christmas tree inside the Hillsboro State Bank lobby. Those toys will be distributed to churches throughout the county, who will then give them to families.
Last year, 110 vehicles and motorcycles participated in the caravan.
After the caravan — and a chili lunch at the Scout House — the Toy Run participants hold an auction. Items at the auction have been donated by area businesses, and all proceeds are also distributed among county churches and other charitable organizations for the Christmas holidays.
One of the big draws at the auction is a plethora of Harley Davidson items.
"Anything with 'Harley Davidson,' we sell," Funk said.
