The children served by Brightside for Families and Children were the recipients of the annual ‘Hope for the Holidays Toy Drive.’ The three-day event was held the first weekend in November. During those two days, new unwrapped toys, gift cards and monetary donations were collected. Toys collected during the event will also be distributed to needy children through Lorraine’s Soup Kitchen and Pantry in Chicopee. For the first time, the ride ended at Mercy Medical Center where all gathered for refreshments and the drawing before heading to the after party.
Event organizers are Bruce Rivest, Melvyn Hook, and Peter Silvano, who have worked tirelessly to make the "Hope for the Holidays" Toy Drive a successful annual event. Rivest originally contacted the Philanthropy Department at Mercy Medical Center about coordinating a toy drive for Brightside. Adopted as a child himself from Brightside in 1970, Rivest knows firsthand the importance Brightside plays in the local community.
"We are grateful to be able to continue this annual tradition," said Rivest. "It's so important to ensure that every child and family supported by Brightside and Lorraine’s has hope and joy this holiday season."
Major sponsors of the "Hope for the Holidays" Toy Drive/Bike Run were Custom Identity Apparel, Indian Motorcycle of Springfield, In memory of Patrick Rud, Moose Family Fraternity, Sons of Mothers MC, Long Riders MC, Cosmos Factory, Z.Z. & Company BBQ, Red’s Towing and Recovery, ATC Audio Video and Lighting, Renegade Souls RC, Christian Motorcyclists Association, Massachusetts Motorcycle Association, Crippled Old Busted Bikers, Polish Brotherhood, FLNY Ryderz, Chicopee Police, Springfield Police, 94.7 WMAS, Elks Riders Lodge 1481, Walmart, The Hanley Family, and Philly’s Motorcycle Detailing.