Olympia Toy Run haul worth over $100,000

464 families receive toys distributed by Salvation Army

By Jerre Redecker | The Olympian • Published January 06, 2009

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A record number of motorcycles delivered more than $100,000 worth of toys in the 31st annual Olympia Toy Run Coalition event this year.

Organizers of the Toy Run and The Salvation Army, which distributes the donations, released the numbers Monday.

"They did a phenomenal job this year," said Jeannie McConnell, business administrator for the Olympia Salvation Army.

McConnell said almost 7,000 toys were collected, as well as $17,618 in cash, a record amount. The money will support the agency's general programs, she said.

Toy Run coordinator Joe Sullivan of Lacey said good weather for the Dec. 6 run helped bring out more than 10,000 riders from up and down the Interstate 5 corridor as well as from out of state. Sullivan credits support in the South Sound biking community for the event's success.

"Guys stepped up and took care of business," he said.

McConnell said there were enough donations to share with other counties and with the local Boys & Girls Clubs and Evergreen Vista Apartments.

A total of 464 families received toys and another "couple of hundred" other families were adopted by groups and businesses, she said.

In addition to the holiday toy drive, The Salvation Army is seeing more requests for rent and utility relief than usual, she said.

Sullivan said planning has started for next year's run. For more information, go to www.olytoyrun.com.