Supplied: Peace Country Toyz 4 Tots / Facebook. Photo from December 2019.

By Abby Zieverink

Toyz 4 Tots Fundraiser

‘The final push’: Peace Country Toyz 4 Tots gearing up for final fundraiser before Christmas

Sep 22, 2021 | 1:23 PM

Peace Country Toyz 4 Tots is holding its last event of the year this weekend for the final push of gathering donations together for their Christmas fundraiser, which looks to help families in need in Grande Prairie.

Board Member Sasha Snaddon says the event will include a two-hour motorcycle and muscle car drive, a dance, and dinner on Saturday, September 25.

“The whole point of it is to fundraise to get toys and gift cards and cash for kids to make sure these kids have a fantastic Christmas and have support year-round.”

“This is our big push to try to get the funds and donations together so that we can help everybody.”

Last year, the organization was able to help 900 local families provide toys and gifts for the Christmas season. Snaddon is hoping to raise that goal, despite the tough fundraising year.

“To be safe, we would like to be able to help about 1,200 families in Grande Prairie just so that when we get the last-minute calls or ‘I forgot, or I got my kids last minute for Christmas, and I’m just not prepared,’ or any of those moments.”

Currently, Snaddon says they are just over halfway to their goal for this Christmas.

“Right now, we’re a little bit behind. We had to cancel two of our runs due to the weather and the smoke this year. It’s just been a kick in the butt,” explains Snaddon.

“So, we’re really hoping to really push this last event, the ride, the dinner and dance, donations and everything, just to help us get caught up.”

Snaddon says Peace Country Toyz 4 Tots, which started 20 years ago in Grande Prairie, has continually been growing.

She says originally the group was only motorcycle riders but is now for anyone wanting to help out community members in need.

“The original Peace Country Toys for Totz riders, their first ride, was in a snowstorm. They were in Santa suits and beautiful rabbit fur mittens and all of these guys got on their bike and strapped toys to the back and they rode, regardless of the weather, regardless of what was happening around them they just simply got on their bikes and did whatever they could to help the local kids of Grande Prairie,” said Snaddon.

“I think a lot of people just assume it’s just the bikers, it’s just for the bikers… It’s really not, this is for the community. We’re just the ones that put on the Santa suit in minus 30 and rode around.”

Snaddon says Five Mile Hall will open at noon on Saturday, which will see Homemade Turkey Dinner and Roast Beef for dinner, a bar, dance, food trucks, and a motorcycle rodeo.

“We’re also having a live band dance, we’re having Whiskey Coalition come in and play some tunes for us and get everyone up and moving and hopefully have some fun this weekend.”

Tickets will be available at the door for $35.

“You can also bring the same value of new toys in for your entry instead of cash,” notes Snaddon.