Motorcycle Club, Court set to bring holiday cheer to kids

OFF THE WIRE
By SALLY YORK, Argus-Press Staff Writer
CORUNNA — Don’t be surprised if you see Santa zooming down the road on his Harley Davidson about noon Saturday.
He’ll be on his way to the Shiawassee County Courthouse to deliver toys for children and families in need.
Playing the part of “biker Santa” will be David Chambers, weather permitting. The Owosso resident is a member of the Iron Wheels, a Harley Davidson motorcycle club that provides dolls, games, bicycles and other gifts to struggling families each Christmas through the Family Court and Department of Human Services.
This marks the 23rd year the club has put on Santa’s Helping Hand Campaign.
“Every kid out there deserves a Christmas,” Chambers said.
Judge James R. Clatterbaugh will be at the courthouse to accept delivery of the gifts, along with court and human services caseworkers.
“They’ve been fantastic over the years,” the judge said of the Iron Wheels. “With this very bad economy, a lot of (the club members) have lost their jobs. It’s really hard for them. We appreciate anything they can do.”
Chambers said the club raised $1,800 Sunday at an auction of items donated by local businesses. Club members will use the funds to purchase toys Saturday morning at Walmart, which is giving the group a discount, he said.
“We go shopping with a list of ages and genders of the kids that the judge gives us,” Chambers said. “Then we lug the toys over to the court.”
Some of the children who have been helped remember the bikers’ generosity in adulthood, donating to the cause themselves. One young man gave a jug full of pennies, Chambers said. And the campaign is growing despite the economy, with the Cadillac branch of the Iron Wheels starting its own Santa’s Helping Hand campaign, he said.
Iron Wheels members may look tough and ride Harleys, but don’t let that fool you, the judge said.
“They do this out of the goodness of their hearts,” Clatterbaugh said. “They are a great group of gentlemen.”

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