Toy Drive a HUGE success!
Saturday night was the Leather / Bear Toy Drive at The Alley Bar and it was a BLAST!
The Mass Bay Bears partnered with the Enforcers NE, a Leather/Fetish club that focuses on raising funds for HIV/AIDS issues, to put together a Toy Drive at The Alley Bar for HIV+ kids and HIV+ parents of kids this holiday season. Central to the Toy Drive was challenging the other Bear & Leather/Fetish clubs of New England to supply baskets to be raffled off.
Nineteen baskets by groups and individuals answered the challenge!
Among bear baskets the Green Mountain Growlers sent a Vermont Picnic Basket, the Woofy Bears (Paul & Bill) from New England Bear Couples donated a huge basket, Mr. New England Bear ‘05 Rob McDev had a towering pile of a basket, and the Mass Bay Bears offered up a big leather basket of bears & mementos from our 6 months/18 events.
Dozens of wonderful men brought toys to donate at the door, ranging from stuffed toys to board games to dolls and train sets, many with whole towering stacks of toys!
Marshal & Russell donated sacks of Teddy Bears, Chris Mederios had bags of assorted toys he had collected from Episcopal Divinity School. The toys donated by everyone were amazing in their number, diversity, and quality. Indeed everyone involved was taken aback by just how MANY and how GREAT the toys were!
Raffle ticket sales were by Bill G., Michael Maggard, and Mr. NEB ‘05 Rob McDev. Our Santas & Elves sold tickets by the singles and by the strips, measuring inseams and diligently splitting strips of tickets. With their assistance and the good natured donations of our ticket buyers we raised over $1,000 to be used to buy yet *more* toys.
The crowd was warm and friendly, it was a great opportunity for the Bear & Leather crowds to meet and mingle, many smiling faces were seen!
Heartfelt thanks go out from the Mass Bay Bears & the Enforcers NE to The Alley Bar, and The Alley Bar Staff, for their support and assistance. Finally, and most importantly: Thanks to everyone, all of the Bears and men of Leather and everyone else who showed up, came together, donated funds and toys and gift baskets to make the holidays better for HIV+ kids and HIV+ parents of kids.
This week all of the toys will be going out to the agencies distributing them. Photos from the evening are now being posted on the websites for the Mass Bay Bears and the Enforcers NE.
Again, THANK YOU!
The best to you and yours this holiday season,
Michael, MBB Host for the Toy Drive
Mass Bay Bears
December 28th, 2005 at 9:08 pm
I had the privilage of deliveing all the toys to the four agencies. In a time when donations are down all the agencies were very very thankful. For some agencies these were the only toys that they will eb getting this year.
January 3rd, 2006 at 11:55 am
Thanks for sharing. You guys are the very best. If I could, I would like to give each and every one of you big hairy Happy New Year muscle hugs.
You made a lot of children very, very happy. Hoping that Daddy Santa was very generous to each and every one of you in return. WOOF