Brightside’s Toy Drive, Motorcycle Run rolls on for another yearDate: 10/30/2023 SPRINGFIELD — The 37th Annual Hope For The Holidays Toy Drive and Motorcycle Run to benefit Brightside for Families and Children will take place on Friday, Nov. 3, through Sunday, Nov. 5, at the Walmart store at 591 Memorial Dr. in Chicopee.
Brightside used to help children find homes. Today, it helps families stay together, heal from trauma and find hope. Director of Behavioral Health Edna Rodriguez for Trinity Health Of New England, including Brightside for Families and Children, said, “We want the people to know that Brightside is still helping families and have been for 150 years. Our goal every year is to engage a lot of people. We’re expecting more motorcycle riders, more toys and more participation. We want to outdo ourselves from the year before and talk about Brightside as much as possible.”
New unwrapped toys, gift cards and monetary donations will be collected on Friday and Saturday from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. The motorcycle run will begin on Sunday from Walmart to Mercy Medical Center at 299 Carew Street in Springfield at 11 a.m. The entry fee for the ride will be a new, unwrapped toy per rider.
Toys collected during the event will also be distributed to needy children through Lorraine’s Soup Kitchen and Pantry in Chicopee. There will be an after party at the Chicopee Moose Lodge on 244 Fuller Rd.
Brightside for Families and Children is the oldest program Trinity Health Of New England has in its ministry and group of hospitals. It started as an orphanage and always preserved its name by being a force in the community helping children thrive by providing in-home therapy, therapeutic mentoring and family advocacy. Brightside carries a sacred legacy for the Trinity Health Of New England by serving for 150 years the communities of children in need.
Bruce Rivest, Melvyn Hook and Peter Silvano are the event organizers. Rodriguez told Reminder Publishing their care and dedication for these events is outstanding. She feels inspired and almost cries every single year because they work hard to pull this off. One of the reasons these three are involved is that at one point in their lives they were wards of the State of Massachusetts Foster Care system. Hook was adopted when he was just a baby. Rivest and Silvano were both at Brightside in Holyoke.
Hook said, “The most fulfilling part of being involved in this toy run is knowing a child who might not of have a Christmas will now because of us.” Rodriguez added, “This toy drive/run brings the spirit of giving to a cause that changes the lives of many and no participation is too small.”
For more information, or to make a donation to the Brightside Toy Drive and Motorcycle Run, visit the event’s Facebook page at facebook.com/brightsidetoydrive.
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