Toy drive helps needy children
A driver donates money to the Unchained Brotherhood's toy drive for needy children Saturday afternoon.
MOSES LAKE — Nine-year-old Alexia Peraza knows it’s the season to give.
She used the change from her mother’s coffee purchase to donate to the Unchained Brotherhood’s toy drive Saturday afternoon.
“I saw Santa and knew he was going to do a good thing,” she said.
Her mother, Betsy Peraza said she had never heard of the toy drive, now in its fifth year.
“She (Alexia) knew it was a good cause. They could have bought candy with the change but they wanted to give it to Santa,” she said.
It was important kids who don’t have Christmas presents be able to have one, added Alexia.
Organized by the Unchained Brotherhood, two Santas and community volunteers were out collecting toy and cash donations for needy children in Moses Lake, despite the rainy, cold temperatures.
The toy drive is the second weekend the group has been collecting donations.
The donation event ends Wednesday, when members of the Unchained Brotherhood, a community-outreach group made up of motorcyclists, plan to deliver donated items to the Moses Lake Food Bank a few days later.
Some of the items donated so far include bikes, stuffed animals and blankets.
Long-time volunteer Nicole Edmontson said she has fun volunteering for the toy drive each year.
“It’s a great way to be part of the community. I get to give back to the community while having fun doing it, too,” said Edmontson, 27, Moses Lake.
She also volunteers because she understands how important Christmas is to kids.
“When I was younger, my mom raised me in such a way that I never knew I was poor, even though we were living in poverty. The gifts she gave me on Christmas morning came out of nowhere. That’s what these gifts from the toy drive are too, they come out of nowhere,” she said.
The annual toy drive usually averages around $10,000 to $12,000 in monetary donations, said National President of the Unchained Brotherhood Jack Watrous.
“I’m always amused by the kindness of people and the foresight they have to think of a child on Christmas opening that one present,” said Watrous.
He said he hopes the toy drive this year will receive “enough donations so that everyone who needs a present will have one.”
The Varnell family donated clothes, books and toys to the toy drive.
“I grew up poor, so I know what it feels like. Christmas is for children and every child deserves Christmas,” said Eric Varnell of Moses Lake.
His daughter, 2-year-old Kira Varnell got her photo taken with Santa.
“There’s a lot of people who don’t have as much as we do. We wanted to give back,” said Chastity Varnell.
Katie Dillman, also of Moses Lake, shared a similar desire to give back to the community.
“My husband and I have more than enough; this was a chance to give back,” she said.
Dillman said she has participated in the drive each year.
Unchained Brotherhood members hope the community will continue to donate beyond Saturday’s toy drive.
“I’m worried that the weather and tough economic times means a lot more kids are going to be without Christmas this year,” said Watrous.
He said the group is also accepting corporate donations, too.
For more information about the toy drive, or how to schedule a donation pick-up time, call 509-793-6666.