California - The Henchmen collect hundreds of toys for local kids

OFF THE WIRE
by Brian Maxey / For the Tracy Press
Source: tracypress.com
Tracy Press - The Henchmen collect hundreds of toys for local kids....
A charitable event Tuesday, Dec. 7, brought holiday help to Tracy from local motorcycle club The Henchmen.
Four members of the California-based nonprofit bike club joined more than a dozen volunteers at Tracy Interfaith Ministries at the corner of Grant Line Road and Parker Avenue to sort toys and prepare them for distribution to local families in need.
Senior club member Carlo Farzzano said he has been a part of the toy drop-off in each of the 12 years he’s belonged to the club.
“I love doing it, and I love helping the kids during the holiday season,” he said.
The drop-off, which began near noon and lasted roughly 15 minutes, saw more than seven barrels filled with toys, ranging from Barbie dolls to action figures. Three bicycles were dropped off to the organization, as well.
The annual toy drive was preceded by a toy run, sponsored by The Henchmen, in which the club collected an estimated 1,000 toys. The toys were collected from the surrounding area from the club’s station in Mountain House.
Farzzano, however, said this year the club did not collect its usual haul. He attributed the decrease to the relocation of the motorcycle club’s collection site. In previous years, Farzzano said, the club has been able to cart in trucks full of toys.
“We moved the clubhouse to the Mountain Bar in Mountain House, so people couldn’t find us as easily as before,” Farzzano said. “We normally bring in much more (toys).”
But Margaret Gaarde, a three-year volunteer at Interfaith, sees the decrease in both available toys and food as a much larger problem.
“Our client list has nearly tripled since I started,” she said, “so it’s getting worse.”
Still, Darlene Quinn, the director at Tracy Interfaith, said she is glad The Henchmen were able to collect as much as they did this year, and she remains optimistic about the remainder of the holiday season.
“The Henchmen went out and collected as much as they could, and we are happy to receive them,” Quinn said. “Hopefully, we will have enough toys to last us through Christmas.”
After the toys are sorted among the loads of donated clothes and food sometime Tuesday evening, the toys will be distributed from Dec. 20 through 24.