We’re celebrating the 20th anniversary of our annual Eldridge Toy Run, and we would love for you to be a part of and celebrate with us at the Alabama Free Will Baptist Children’s Home! Keep reading to learn more about how this generous event came to be.
How Did the Toy Run Start?
The Eldridge Toy Run was started in 2002 by a group of bikers from Alabama and Mississippi after they learned about the Alabama Free Will Baptist Children’s Home and wanted to do something to benefit us. They decided it would be great to organize a toy run for the children. So it really did start out as a toy drive in the beginning, with motorcycle groups coming and bringing toys and gifts for the kids.
The first Toy Run started with riders in Amory, MS, and they rode towards Eldridge, AL, picking up riders along the way in Sulligent, Guin, and Winfield. There were 175 riders, and we raised $7,000 in cash and about the same in gifts.
How Has the Toy Run Changed?
As the Toy Run grew in size over the years, we decided to transition it to an event to raise funds for the Home rather than being strictly a toy drive. We ask that attendees bring a donation as a part of their free participation. Now we have groups of sponsors to sponsor each child’s Christmas wish list to ensure they get exactly what they ask for.
The Toy Run is entirely hosted by volunteers, called the Benefit Team, who aren’t affiliated with the Alabama Free Will Baptist Children’s Home and do this out of the kindness of their hearts. We’re so blessed to have community support far and wide from people who genuinely care so much about the children in our care.
What Does the Toy Run Look Like Today?
Fast forward to today, and it has grown quite a bit—to 2,000 and 800 bikers! It’s now our largest fundraiser event of the year and the largest motorcycle benefit ride in Alabama (and some surrounding states).
The morning of the Toy Run, motorcycles, antique cars, and show vehicles start arriving around 10:30 a.m from all over the country—Las Vegas, New York, South Florida, Pennsylvania, Nashville, you name it!
We have plenty of donated food, both made and provided, including bbq chicken, chili, stew, hot dogs, and more to feed our attendees. After we eat, we have a program where the children are presented with their gifts, and we recognize our large sponsors who have contributed to making the Toy Run happen.
The Eldridge Toy Run is our kids’ favorite day of the year, even more than Christmas! They love watching all the motorcycles come in and seeing the same bikers who have been coming for years.
How You Can Be a Part of the Alabama Free Will Baptist Children’s Home Eldridge Toy Run
As we mentioned, attendance for the Toy Run is free, but we do ask participants to donate to the Home to help us with our yearly expenses. You can do so today here: https://fwbhome.org/support-the-home/. We’ll also have T-shirts and other merchandise available for purchase on-site the day of the event.
No matter rain, sleet, or shine, on the first Saturday of December, all roads lead to Eldridge. We hope you’ll make plans to join us!