HONOLULU -- Civilian, former and current military motorcyclists from all around Oahu gather for Street Bikers United — Toys for Tots Caravan at Kakaako Waterfront Park on Dec. 6, 2014.
The goal of the Toys for Tots program is to collect new, non-wrapped toys and distribute those toys as Christmas gifts to less fortunate children in the community in which the campaign is conducted.
Ray Pagan, the state treasurer for Street Bikers United, said the parade offers the chance for bikers to get together and have a good time while helping support a great cause.
“(The bikers) bring their toys, get together and mingle, letting everyone know what bikers are all about,” Pagan said. “They’re not gangsters like a lot of people perceive them — they actually do care about members of the community and for those who are less fortunate than others.”
Pagan said his favorite part of hosting the parade is seeing the various bike clubs getting together and working toward a single cause.
“During this gathering, everyone is happy to be here and they’re like one big, happy family,” Pagan said. “I didn’t expect this many bikes and I’m sure the kids will all be happy. I really appreciate all the people who were donating.”
Cpl. Christopher Griffin, the Toys for Tots coordinator, said the Marines attend the parade each year, gathering toys for the program.
“The (Toys for Tots) program began in 1941 with a small Marine reserve unit in Los Angeles,” Griffin said. “In 1948, it became an official Marine program. The purpose behind it is to distribute toys to all the children in need or whose families can’t afford to purchase the toys. Toys for Tots distributes to about 7 million children each year.”
Griffin said the Marines are the face of the program, but the bikers and community are what help the most.
“We collect toys and help spread awareness of the program, but we take whatever (the community) can give us,” Griffin said. “We don’t really have a set number for any event — we just try to outdo ourselves each year. Last year, we ended up collecting around 25,000 toys and I’d like to get just as much this year, if not even more.”
Griffin said he just liked to imagine the thought of the joy of kids, opening up their brand new toys on Christmas Day, which they may not have gotten if it weren’t for Toys for Tots.
Christopher “Moose” Sunday, the state secretary for Street Bikers United, said he was ecstatic about the turn out at Kakaako Waterfront Park.
“Everything here has just gone amazing,” Sunday said. “There were more bikers than I’ve seen in any of the other toy parades I’ve been a part of. It’s a blessing to be out here and to see everybody donating toys and riding for a good cause. Normally, you would never see this many bikers together in one place.”
Sunday said the common support of the program really unites the community to donate to a better cause.
“I love just being involved, contributing to the Toys for Tots program and being around all these people,” Sunday said. “I’m extremely grateful for the Marines’ involvement with Toys for Tots. It’s great that the people are supportive toward the program and that the Marines are supporting the people in return. It’s truly an honor to see (the Marines) out here.”