The children served by Brightside for Families and Children are the recipients of the annual “Hope for the Holidays” Toy Drive and Motorcycle Run. The three-day event began with toy collections at the Chicopee Walmart on November 7th and 8th and culminated with the motorcycle run on Sunday, November 9th. Admission to the ride is a new, unwrapped toy, gift card or a monetary donation. Toys collected during the event will also be distributed to needy children through Lorraine’s Soup Kitchen.
Event organizers are Emanuel Afonso, Jared Berkeley, Ralph DiChiara and Bruce Rivest, 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 continuing the toy drive, which had lapsed, for Brightside in 2012. 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 important to ensure that every child and family supported by Brightside and Lorraine’s has hope and joy this holiday season." The outing had over 600 riders who celebrated the end of the ride in the Mercy Colleague parking lot. A program honored Bruce Rivest for his 13 years of service to Brightside. He has stepped down as chair of the ride but continues to offer his support and assistance.
Major sponsors of the "Hope for the Holidays" Toy Drive/Motorcycle Run are Dunkin, Old School, Harley Davidson, The Hanley Family, Haymond Law, Reds Towing, American Harley Davidson and many more.
For more information, or to make a donation to the Brightside Toy Drive/Motorcycle Run, visit the event’s Facebook page at https://www.facebook.com/brightsidetoydrive/