Mississippi - ASGARD bike ride gathers thousands of children's toys
The rumble of hundreds of bikes with thousands of children's toys in tow echoed across the Coast on Sunday during the 24th annual ASGARD Toy Run Charity Motorcycle Ride.
Bikers from Louisiana, Mississippi and Alabama gathered at two destinations, one each in Hancock and Jackson counties, to start the toy ride that ended at the Knights of Columbus office in Biloxi.
An 18-wheeler packed with children's toys, trailers filled with bikes, trucks, and 600 motorcycles formed a procession more than a mile long on the Interstate on their way to donate the toys to needy children for Christmas.
The ASGARD Motorcycle Club sponsors the event every year the Sunday after Thanksgiving to kick off the holiday season, with gift-giving as their message.
"We had more bikers this year than last year and the weather was great," said ASGARD spokesman Smokey Stepputat.
"We want to kick off the holiday season and that is exactly what we did. The Highway Patrol and all the law enforcement officers gave us a great helping hand for a pack this big."
This is the first year since Katrina the motorcycle club was able to bring the toys directly to the Knights of Columbus office.
"We have returned to our roots by coming back here to Biloxi now that we have rebuilt," said Greg Crapo of the Biloxi Catholic Diocese.
In years past the bikers have gathered at the Gulfport Dragway to load up the thousands of toys.
"The ASGARD Motorcycle Club is the main player here," said Tommy Joe Breaux of the Knights of Columbus. "Without this motorcycle club, there would not be enough toys for the needy children or money for food for the Christmas baskets for St. Vincent de Paul to pass out. We need this club, especially during these difficult economic times."
The Knights of Columbus and the Social Services of the Biloxi Catholic Diocese will sort and distribute the thousands of electronics, bikes, dolls, games and toys during the next two weeks.
"We helped about 350 families last year for Christmas after this toy run," Jennifer Williams of the Biloxi Catholic Diocese said.
The diocese has been accepting applications and walk-ins for the past three months to apply for help this Christmas season. The toys from the charity ride will go to help needy children in 17 counties, from the Coast to Hattiesburg.
The Biloxi Fire Department also joined in the day of giving by bringing children's bikes to the Knights of Columbus office.
"The ASGARDs are very particular about who they bring these thousands of toys to because they want to make sure the children from all religious backgrounds get the toys - and they do," Breaux said.
A celebration party at the Harley-Davidson Shop on Cedar Lake Road followed the big ride. The Shed Barbecue Joint provided sandwiches for all the bikers.
"It is usually all about the ride when you are on a bike," biker Dan Ramora said. "Today, it is about helping the kids."
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