Salvation Army, motorcyclists team up for toy run in Oroville
OROVILLE » In a year of hardship for so many, leaving many children without toys during the holiday season and parents struggling, motorcyclists from around Butte County have been doing their part to try and help.
Last weekend Sierra Steel Harley Davidson in Chico hosted a toy run that departed from Silver Dollar Fairgrounds in Chico that attracted nearly 750 riders. After the event, many riders, including Rick Pratt, had the idea for another toy run for bikers to be able to ride together and bring more toys to Butte County.
With a week’s notice, just over 100 bikers showed up to Riverbend Park in Oroville on Saturday for the Oroville Motorcycle Parade to benefit the Salvation Army. Core Officer for the Oroville Salvation Army Michael Dominguez mentioned to Pratt that the organization was short on toys this year, so Pratt got to work.
In less than a week, the event was planned. Each rider brought a toy to donate to the Salvation Army in Oroville, which also serves those in Berry Creek who were affected by the North Complex Fire.
“(Rick) came into my office on Monday morning and he said he had this thought last night about doing a toy run,” Dominguez said. “I was like, ‘Cool what do we have to do to make it happen?’ We took off running ever since. He’s put in a lot of work to get this organized and we’re grateful for the partnership we now have with them.”
Pratt, a baseball and softball umpire who has helped plan benefit events in the past, then began reaching to fellow bikers and motorcycle clubs he knew in the area. One of the first people he reached out to was Chris Rice, a member of the Kings of Cali motorcycle club based out of Sacramento. Rice brought 17 other members from his club on Saturday, with members having also attended the event in Chico the previous weekend.
“It’s always to support the community that’s our first and foremost importance,” Rice said. “Rick gave me a call and told me what he was doing and Kings of Cali, that’s what we’re about.”
Though based in the Sacramento area, Rice and many of the bikers at Saturday’s event know each other from previous toy runs they have attended together as a
“The need is always there but it is greater this year. Beginning with COVID, to recent fires, it is a greater need. For people to come and partner during these times is excellent, and then to be able to continue this on next year, because the need is still going to be there.”
— Core Officer for the Oroville Salvation Army Michael Dominguez
community. They too, like many others, have had rides and events canceled due to COVID-19 restrictions. Events like Saturday’s are now attracting riders from outside of the county, for which Pratt is thankful for.
“For one thing people can go out to the parade and wear a mask and there’s no restrictions there so that’s good,” Pratt said about some of the positives from Saturday. “And we get to go out and ride because most of every run that we were supposed to go on this year got taken away because of the virus. So we get to have a little bit of fun.”
As for the future of the event, Pratt hopes this can be done annually and that it can grow. He and Dominguez are thankful for the partnership they have formed.
“The need is always there but it is greater this year. Beginning with COVID, to recent fires it is a greater need,” Dominguez said. “For people to come and partner during these times is excellent, and then to be able to continue this on next year, because the need is still going to be there.”