Santa's Helpers rev their engines to benefit Salvation Army Christmas Program

Santa’s sleigh bells were replaced by the roar of V-twin engines as area motorcycle enthusiasts took to the road for the Sixth Annual Santa’s Helpers Toy Run on Sunday.

The riders collected donations at the fire station in Cole Camp before making the trek to Sedalia. The group gathered another batch of donations from a drop off at Yaeger’s Cycle, then followed a police escort to The Salvation Army’s main office on East Broadway Boulevard. More than 170 riders participated in this year’s event, according to one of the event organizers, Mike Davis, of Cole Camp. The donations will help provide a Christmas for poor families through the Salvation Army’s Christmas program.

“This was more people than we’ve ever had — it just keeps getting bigger each year,” Davis said.

Davis said the event came about after he and his wife, Lois, and another couple, Duke and Karen Paxton, also of Cole Camp, got together and talked about ways “to give back to the community.”

“There were other rides, but most of them took donations to Kansas City — no one was doing it down here,” Davis said.

Paxton said he “grew up poor and the Salvation Army helped us out. I knew they were a good organization and so we decided to give them our support.”

“We had hard times when I was younger and I know how that is and I wanted to help out others. What comes around goes around, and my wife said ‘Why don’t you do something about it?’ ” Paxton said.

Davis said the first year’s ride drew about 60 riders, but interest and participation “just keeps getting higher.”
Captain P. Mark Haslett, the commander of the Sedalia Salvation Army, said this was the first year he had worked with the group, but “they are a great group of people.”

“They put it together and got the job done. We are planning to help about 400 people this Christmas and this will definitely help,” Haslett said.

Registration for the Salvation Army’s Christmas Program begins Nov. 9. People interested in making donations or in receiving help should call the Salvation Army at 826-1525, or visit their main office at 1200 E. Broadway Blvd.