Published: November 19, 2009 10:30 pm      

ABATE holding toy run

By KANDACE MCCOY

kandace.mccoy@register-news.com

MT. VERNON — A local group is hosting its 29th annual Toy Run for children at the United Methodist Children Home and is seeking support from the community.

Members of A Brotherhood Aimed Toward Education (ABATE) Southern Illinois Chapter 27 is seeking donations for its annual fundraising event which will be held Dec. 19 at 2 p.m.

“When we start this, I send out 500 to 600 letters to the community,” said event organizer Rhonda Tupper. “We use a lot of postage stamps, computer paper, envelopes, wrapping paper — it’s neverending.”

Tupper said the toys donated for the Toy Run are sometimes the only Christmas children get. Each child at the UMCH makes a Christmas wish list and gives it to ABATE, she added. Last year, 53 children at UMCH benefited from the fundraiser, as well as three local families.

“It’s amazing what people can do when they get together,” Tupper said. “Something new from last year is Afton’s Dance Class is having a program at the end of the year called The Nutcracker. They don’t charge admission — they ask for toys and then they gave half to us. We used them for the UMCH and we took what was left to the police department for them to use when they need to help a child.”

Participants in the Toy Run will meet in The Hideout parking lot at 1:45 p.m. on Dec. 19, Tupper said, and then make a lap around town before heading to the UMCH. She said the support from the community during the Toy Run is appreciated.

“Once people find out where we’re going, we have a lot of support from the community — just sitting and watching for us and then honking and waving.”

Tupper said community members can also contact her about what specific toys have been requested.

For more information, or to donate, contact Tupper at 242-6398.