Illinois - Outlaws Christmas Party

OFF THE WIRE

Source: pjstar.com
Gingerbread man Carl Duckwiler interacts with a youngster during a Christmas party hosted by the Outlaws Peoria motorcycle club on Saturday, Dec. 18, 2010, at Itoo Hall. Duckwiler said has been dressing up in gingerbread after the costume won a Christmas party contest a few years back. The annual Outlaws party is in its 28th year, and organizers said it will provide individual toys to 305 needy children this year.
By TYLER MARITOTE
Journal Star
PEORIA —
Santa Claus really does exist. And he rides a motorcycle.
He cruised into the Itoo Hall on Saturday for the Outlaws Motorcycle Club’s 28th annual Christmas party for needy children.
Mike Roth has been Santa all 28 years the Peoria chapter has put on the event, where partygoers are treated to a meal, a magic show and presents.
“A lot of places give out generic gifts,” Roth said. “But here, it’s not every boy gets a football and every girl gets a doll.”
In fact, the children get to choose what they want.
All 305 kids in attendance sat on Roth’s lap in the weeks leading up to the party and told Santa Claus what they wanted. Then the Outlaws, with assistance from other organizations, attempted to satisfy the requests, spending an average of $40 per child.
At the party, the recipients were called up one at a time to return to Santa’s lap, receive their gift and have a complimentary picture taken with Roth. In addition, children received a stocking full of “generic” gifts and a raffle ticket to win one of 70 new bicycles.
Considering the food, the show and a skit that featured Yogi Bear asking Santa to help him find his “pic-a-nic” basket, the cost to run such a charitable event wasn’t cheap.
“I know it’s cliche,” Roth said. “But I get more out of giving them a present than getting one myself.”
Some of the requests are tear-jerking.
“This should tell you about the situations of some of these kids: Some have requested socks and underwear,” Roth said. “And some don’t want to open their presents here. This is the only thing they are getting, so they want to bring it home and put it under their tree.”
Before sitting down to accommodate the guests, Roth made his way around the hall on West Farmington Road. He hugged the boys and girls who couldn’t seem to control themselves as Santa got off his motorcycle and presented Yogi with the pic-a-nic basket in question.
“It always gives me tingles,” said Colene Henderson of Springfield, who was at the party with her 4-year-old granddaughter. “The kids gets so excited and happy. It brings back a lot of my own memories. It’s almost like magic.”
Henderson was thrilled herself. Her granddaughter has gotten a gift every year, but now she’s getting old enough to appreciate it.
“Those precious years are just beginning,” she said.
Roth has been excited about it for 28 years. Even though he’s a biker, he’s also Santa.
“If there is a soft spot in my heart,” he said, “it’s for little kids.”

Tyler Maritote can be reached at 686-3251 or tmaritote@pjstar.com