Toys, checks delivered after toy run
Staff writer
Checks were handed out Saturday at Hillsboro Vintage Bank Ks for organizations participating in the 32nd annual Marion County Toy Run.
The run, which was on Nov. 1, received funds and toys being distributed to county organizations to benefit needy children of the county.
Seventy-eight motorcyclists, 14 classic cars and other participants were in this year’s run.
This year’s community Christmas trees, ministerial organizations, Marion County Food Bank and Families and Communities Together received $14,000 in toys and checks.
In the 32 years of the toy run more than $321,000 and hundreds of toys have been given to many different county organizations to help children enjoy Christmas.
The sponsors of the toy run are Hillsboro Sons of American Legion, ABATE District 9 of Kansas, and Route 56 and Classic Cruisers Car Show, as well as the children of Marion County.
The 2025 recipients are Marion County Food Bank, Families and Communities Together, Marion Community Christmas, Hillsboro Ministerial Alliance, Peabody Association of Churches, and Goessel Ministerial Alliance.
There will also be an angel tree in Marion, said Lucy Altis, a member of the toy run.
She said they needed to know the age, gender and clothes size of each child.
“We get whatever the child puts on his paper,” Altis said.
Thirteen to 16 families in Marion will be having a nice Christmas because of the toy run she said.
“We all want kids to have a good Christmas,” organizer Tom Koslowski said. “That is what this is all about.”
Last year organizers thought donations were going to be down, but they still collected $18,000.
Over the years the Classic Car Show has donated $50,000.
In addition to the toys families will also receive food boxes to cook holiday meals, including turkeys, hams and other items for the meal.
The receiving organizations were asked to let the toy run organizers know what they are doing with the money without mentioning what the kids received.