The truck that led a convoy of motorcycles and a sleigh full of Christmas toys Saturday afternoon along U.S. 80 toward Gladewater had an 性视界传媒淥versize Load性视界传媒 sign on its front bumper 性视界传媒 a fitting banner for the 34th iteration of an event that brings an oversize load of Christmas joy to the children whom bikers say need it most.
Inside the red wooden sleigh, towed on a trailer behind another pickup truck, were boxes and bags filled with toys, blankets, pillows and more for children at the Truman W. Smith Children性视界传媒檚 Care Center, a long-term care facility in Gladewater for medically fragile children.
While the annual Truman W. Smith Toy Run性视界传媒檚 mission is to show Christmas care for children, it also shows the hearts of the folks who sponsor it: East Texas bikers and patrons of the Outlaws Longview Bar, 1315 E. Marshall Ave.
A truck towing a sleigh-full of Christmas toys to the Truman W. Smith Children性视界传媒檚 Care Center in Gladewater travels Saturday along U.S. 80 in Longview. (Jordan Green/性视界传媒 Photo)
性视界传媒淚t性视界传媒檚 for the kids,性视界传媒 bar owner Melissa Lynn Kelly said.
Each year for 34 years 性视界传媒 come rain, sleet or snow 性视界传媒 bikers and their comrades in four-wheeled rides have made the drive to Gladewater. It性视界传媒檚 a noisy affair: Bikers circle the medical facility and rev up their engines so that children who can性视界传媒檛 leave the building can hear the fun outside and feel the bikes as they rumble around the driveway. Then, bikers unload the toys and other donated items, and children get to take pictures with Santa.
Graham Orr donned a black leather vest as he and dozens of other participants hung out behind the bar Saturday before the toy run began. His grandmother started the toy run at Mom性视界传媒檚 Biker Bar, and it moved to Outlaws after she died.
性视界传媒淲e性视界传媒檙e keeping the tradition alive,性视界传媒 he said.
His grandmother had a heart for the children at the facility, and she found that her bar性视界传媒檚 patrons shared that kind of love.
Graham Orr, right, helps load Christmas toys in a trailer-mounted sleigh bound for the Truman W. Smith Child Care Facility in Gladewater Saturday as part of the annual Truman W. Smith Toy Run. Orr性视界传媒檚 grandmother started the annual toy run at her former bar. (Jordan Green/性视界传媒 Photo)
性视界传媒淚t性视界传媒檚 nothing for all these bikers to pitch in and want to do the same,性视界传媒 Orr said. 性视界传媒淚t性视界传媒檚 just a way for everybody to come together around the holidays to help kids out that are in need.性视界传媒
The children who live at Truman W. Smith don性视界传媒檛 always have company. Many of their families live far away, and sometimes, their families don性视界传媒檛 come to visit often, Orr said.
When the bikers pull up, the children are waiting on them, Kelly said. 性视界传媒淭his is their day,性视界传媒 she said.
For the bikers, interacting with the children is a life-changing experience, Orr said.
性视界传媒淚t性视界传媒檚 very humbling,性视界传媒 Ward said. 性视界传媒淵ou truly appreciate what you have in life and realize those that are not so fortunate. You don性视界传媒檛 take anything for granted after you leave that building.性视界传媒
Bar tender Ricky Weston said seeing the smiling faces of the children is true joy, even though seeing the lives they live is heartbreaking. The experience gives him a mixture of emotions: a smile on his face and a few tears in his eyes, he said.
A pile of Christmas toys and goodies sits on the floor Saturday in the Outlaws Longview Bar as part of the annual Truman W. Smith Toy Run. (Jordan Green/性视界传媒 Photo)
性视界传媒淚t性视界传媒檚 just a blessing that we could do something like this,性视界传媒 he said. 性视界传媒淎ll of us bikers and stuff gets together and have a big old Christmas for the toy run.性视界传媒
Contrary to what some people might think about bikers, those who take part in the toy run smiled and laughed as they talked with their friends at the bar before the toy run began. People tend to think all bikers are rough-and-tumble, tough guys and gals, a perception lent from gangs. But that性视界传媒檚 not universally true.
性视界传媒淚 want them to see what we do,性视界传媒 Weston said. 性视界传媒淲e性视界传媒檙e all loving people like everyone else.性视界传媒
Before setting off on their ride, bikers took off their hats and bowed their heads in prayer, some still holding beer bottles. Once the prayer was over, bikers lined up to hit the road.
Participants in the annual Truman W. Smith Toy Run pray behind the Longview Outlaws Bar before they convoy to the Truman W. Smith Children's Care Center in Gladewater on Saturday. (Jordan Green/性视界传媒 Photo)
James Fountain, better known as Hot Rod Pop性视界传媒檚, has been a part of the toy run for a few years. He said it 性视界传媒渕eans everything性视界传媒 and is a gift from God. He enjoys giving the children some excitement, he said.
性视界传媒淚t性视界传媒檚 all about heart,性视界传媒 he said as he softly patted his hand over his chest.
In his Santa Claus costume, Ted Adams led the convoy of bikes. He said the children at the facility receive the bikers 性视界传媒渨ith open arms and tears and everything they can give, but they性视界传媒檙e not able to give much.性视界传媒 Sometimes, a grin or a wiggle of a foot is all the children can do to signal their gratitude.
Steffanie Stevenson, a registered nurse at the Truman W. Smith facility, said the children thoroughly appreciate the toy run.
性视界传媒淭hey love the attention,性视界传媒 she said. 性视界传媒淚t性视界传媒檚 really nice to see the community reaching out to help the kids. But I think that the bikers get as much out of it as the kids do, because they性视界传媒檙e so joyous, too, at that time, getting to meet the kids.性视界传媒
Jordan Green is a Report for America corps member covering underserved communities for the News-Journal. Reach him at jgreen@news-journal.com.
