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The
Chicago Toys for Tots Motorcycle Parade
If
you are not familiar with The Chicagoland Toys for Tots Motorcycle Parade,
here is a brief description. The Parade is always held on the first Sunday
in December, rain or shine, and begins in The Dan Ryan Woods forest
preserve located on Western Avenue at 83rd Street.
All
motorcyclists are invited to participate in the grand procession, the
only requirement is that all riders must bring at least one new, unwrapped
toy to donate to the USMCR Toys for Tots Program. Many riders and Parade
volunteers will begin to arrive before sunrise, to meet friends, check out
the thousands of bikes, and purchase Parade souvenirs.
At
9:11am The Pledge of Allegiance will be recited. The Parade starts at
9:30am, led by Santa Claus and his elves on their Harley-Davidson
motorcycles. The Parade travels north on Western Avenue, through
Chicago, for almost 20 miles.
Thousands
of spectators come to watch the procession and encourage the
riders, and some people even bring toys to give to the bikers as they
pass by.
The Parade
then turns west on Foster Avenue, and soon arrives at The USMRC Center.
Most
riders park their bikes and bring their gifts into the Marine
Center, but there will also be a Drive-Thru Lane for the riders.
In The Drive-thru area, riders can drop off their toy
contributions and leave without having to get off their cycles. Some
refreshments as well as Chicago TFT Parade merchandise will be available at
the Center. The Parade Day ends with the riders adding their gifts to
the huge piles of toys that will soon find their way into the hands of
thousands of grateful children.
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The USMCR Toys for Tots Program
needs toys for all children, from infants to teenagers, but we especially
need gifts for young girls between the ages of 10
and 14, so please keep them in mind when you're shopping for toys. Batteries
are also needed, so if your gift uses them, please include extra batteries
with your gift, or consider giving a box of batteries as your gift.
Remember that we want to
discourage the donation of stuffed, plush animals because they bring many
health problems with them. Instead, consider donating sports equipment,
games, books, dolls, toy vehicles, crafts, etc. And remember, do NOT
gift wrap your gifts.
Toy
Drop-off Locations
The following locations are some
of the many Toy Drop-off sites in the Chicago area. We would
appreciate all toy donations to be made by December 17.
Many restaurants and pubs are
having parties after The Parade, and are marked with a *.
Check with the individual business for more details.
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Abbey Pub 3420
Grace Avenue *
Bo's NW Hwy
and Bryn Mawr *
Brandy's 5200 South Cicero Avenue
Chi-Town Harley-Davidson 17801
LaGrange Road
Circle Inn 7300 Circle Avenue,Forest Park *
Corner Joynt Tavern 7600 60th Place, Summit
Crabby Kim's Waveland and Western Avenues *
Dollar Tree
Stores
DoubleTree Hotel-Alsip 5000 127th Street
EZ Inn 921 North Western Avenue
Gamblers Tavern 4908 North Pulaski Avenue *
Gumby's Wrightwood
and Austin *
Harris Bank Branches
Hedgehogs 6915 West
Pershing Road
Illinois Harley-Davidson 13th and Harlem Avenue
Jewel Food Stores in Chicago
Koffee Kettle Restaurant 63rd and Mayfield Avenue
LAMA Headquarters 3519 West Fullerton Avenue *
Marine Center Foster and Troy Avenues
Oak Lawn Harley-Davidson 110th and Cicero Avenue
Quinn II 2701 South Archer Avenue
Spynners Western and Eastwood *
Stempien VFW 47th
and Tripp Avenue
Studio 31 5147 South Archer Avenue
Ted's Tap 3300 West Belmont Avenue
Third Down Sports Bar 4839 South Central Avenue |
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Toy Distribution
The
TFT Parade collects toys and delivers them to the USMCR Toys for Tots
Program. The USMCR TFT Program then distributes the toys to many
local groups including various churches, public and parochial schools,
hospitals, and neighborhood aid organizations. It is these
groups that deliver the toys to deserving children and families.
The USMCR does not deliver toys directly to individual children or
families.
Anyone who
wishes to receive toys for underprivileged children should contact
their local church, school, hospital or community aid
organization.
All
neighborhood, charitable groups seeking toys to distribute should
contact the USMCR Toys for Tots Program at 3034 West Foster, Chicago,
60625 or call 773-539-7393.
TFT Parade on
ABC 7 News
Be sure to look for the TFT
Parade story at the end of the 10pm news TONIGHT on Channel 7.
Argo
Community High School Toy Collection
Argo Community High School and the Athletic Booster
Club will be assisting with the 2004 Toys for Tots toy collection.
There will be collection boxes located in the front lobby of the
school were individuals can drop off new, manufacturer wrapped toys,
which will be donated to the Chicagoland Toys for Tots Motorcycle
Parade.
As a thank you for your
donation, anyone donating a toy will receive a FREE ticket for
admission to the ARGONAUT basketball game on Saturday, 12/11/2004.
Individuals will also receive a raffle ticket for prizes to be raffled
of at half-time of the varsity game which begins at 6:00 PM.
Individuals can also
bring a toy to the game and make their donation at that time with FREE
admission to the game. Individuals making donations at the game
will also receive a ticket for the half-time raffle prizes.In
conjunction with the above, the National Honor Society is assisting
the Chicagoland Toys for Tots Motorcycle Parade with preparation for
the motorcycle run on 12/05/2004, as well as sorting toys after
collection.
Schedule
of Parade Meetings
All General Meetings will be held at
the Stempien VFW at 47th Street and Tripp Avenue and will begin at
7:30pm.
All
Northside Meetings will be held at LAMA Headquarters at 3519 West
Fullerton Avenue, and will begin at 8pm,
except
the Saturday, December 4 Meeting which will be at The Marine Center at
10am.
General
Meeting #7 Friday, December 3, 2004
Northside Meeting #5
Saturday, December 4, 2004 at Foster Avenue
TFT
Motorcycle Parade Sunday, December 5, 2004
De-Briefing Meeting
Friday, December, 17, 2004
Nomination Meeting
Friday, January 7, 2005
Election Meeting
Friday, February 4, 2005
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