The Maui Chapter of the Street Bikers United of Hawaii will host its 10th annual Toy Run Parade to benefit the U.S. Marine Corps Reserve Toys For Tots program. The parade will be held on Sunday, December 18, at 11 a.m. It will travel from Kahului to the Lahaina Cannery Mall and return around 2 p.m. to Carrie & Eddie's Hideaway. The Hideaway is located at 500 North Puunene Avenue.
Assembly for the parade will begin at 9 a.m. at the Wal-Mart in Kahului. Riders should bring a new, unwrapped toy for a child or make a financial contribution to the program.
Join the festivities at the Hideaway after the race. Tickets are $20 and include an ono meal and a raffle ticket for a door prize. There will also be live entertainment, raffles, photo opportunities and commemorative merchandise for sale. To purchase tickets, please go to the Street Bikers United Maui Chapter's website.
If you are not familiar with the Toys For Tots program, it has a very interesting history. It was founded in 1947 by Major Bill Hendricks, a Marine Reservist on weekends and the Director of Public Relations for Warner Brothers in civilian life. It was his wife's idea, after she made a doll and Bill could not find an organization that would donate it to a needy child. The trial program that Bill started with his fellow reservists was so successful that in 1948 the Marine Corps adopted it and expanded it nationally. Bill Hendricks used his contacts to enroll numerous celebrities to support the program. Walt Disney designed the original logo, below, still being used today. The primary goal of Toys For Tots is "to deliver, through a new toy at Christmas, a message of hope to less fortunate youngsters that will assist them in becoming responsible, productive, patriotic citizens."
Join the Toy Run Parade on December 18 and help bring this message to the children of Maui County. 
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