Use this search box to find articles that have run in our newspapers over the last several years.
Date: 11/1/2022
HOLYOKE — It’s hard to believe it’s already that time of year again and on Nov. 6, when the roar of motorcycle engines come rumbling down Route 33 from Chicopee to Holyoke, there will be over 600 dedicated motorcyclists who come out in unison each holiday season to deliver toys and gifts to children and families in need for the Brightside Hope for the Holidays toy drive/toy run.
Entering its 36th year, the Hope for the Holiday’s event continues its mission to grant newborns to 17-year-olds Christmas items on their wish lists through its two-day toy drive.
On Nov. 4 and 5 from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. at the Chicopee Walmart at 591 Memorial Dr., donors can bring a new, unopened toy or monetary donation/gift card to the site.
Bruce Rivest, president of the event, said they have had much success over the years, raising monetary donations in the neighborhood of up to $20,000.
Joining Rivest in organizing the massive charity event are Melvyn Hook and Peter Sylvano. The three friends share deep connections to Brightside because, as children, they were all adopted – Rivest and Hook both were adopted through Brightside and Sylvano was adopted through another organization near Boston.
Rivest’s journey with Brightside began soon after his son was born. He had gotten a job at a trucking company and wanted to do something to give back. “I just wanted to give back, and I wanted to teach my son some good morals. So, I decided I was going to see if I could utilize the trucks from the trucking company that I had to try to do some kind of charitable event.”
He continued, “When I put charitable events in my computer, that’s when the first thing that popped up was Brightside. Brightside was in my life not through my adoption, but I also went to school there later on in life, and I was having troubles, and I thought there was no better organization and to try to help. I gave them a call, and they welcomed me with open arms, and 11 years later, here we are.”
On Nov. 6, registration for the toy run begins at 8:30 a.m., and riders are asked to bring one unwrapped gift to participate.
Then, from 9 to 11 a.m., the toys will make their journey on the back of a flatbed hauler from Red’s Towing, and the pre-Christmas brigade of motorcyclists, together with Santa in tow, will deliver them to Providence Hospital. There the procession will be greeted with hot cocoa and a short ceremony.
After that, for those who’d like to continue with the festivities, there will be an after-party at Geraldine’s, located at 116 School St. Chicopee. Tickets can be purchased for $10 at the beginning of the toy run or at the door of Geraldine’s the day of. The cost includes a pork dinner lunch with chili, rolls and salad catered by ZZ and Company Barbecue. Drinks to be purchased separately.
As the toy drive/run approaches, this will be the final time it will go to Providence Hospital. Providence Hospital was sold, and the program is now operated out of Mercy Medical Center in Springfield. In 2023 the tradition will continue at Mercy Hospital instead.
“The biggest thing that we try to get out there every year was how important our children are today because they’re our children of tomorrow,” added Rivest.
For more information, readers can visit https://www.facebook.com/brightsidetoydrive/.