Toys 4 Tots reaches whole other level of support | News, Sports, Jobs

Toy donations were collected Sunday morning for a Toys 4 Tots donation drive event by Street Bikers United Hawaii — Maui Chapter at the Azeka Shopping Center. The Maui News / DAKOTA GROSSMAN photos

KIHEI — The annual Maui Toys 4 Tots Motorcycle Toy Run reached a “whole other level” this year as hundreds of motorcyclists, canoe paddlers, antique car drivers, families, volunteers and friends gathered at the Azeka Shopping Center on Sunday to make sure that keiki in need have a joyful Christmas season.

For the past 21 years, Toys for Tots has been an annual toy donation drive coordinated by Street Bikers United — Maui Chapter, and presented by the United States Marine Corps Reserve in partnership with the Salvation Army of Maui County.

“I think it means the world, especially during the holidays, you know. For kids to go without (toys), it shouldn’t be happening anywhere, let alone in our county,” said Ron Panzo, president of the Maui County Street Bikers United. “It’s just really heartwarming to see the community come together like this and pull together and make sure that no kids get left behind.”

Even during the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020, the SBU Maui Chapter pivoted and conducted a drive-thru event instead to maintain a season of giving.

Panzo has been participating in the Maui Toys 4 Tots Motorcycle Toy Run for 12 years, and “just to see it growing every year and to see where we are now, it’s just a testimony to the great community of Maui.”

Hundreds of motorcyclists, canoe paddlers, antique car drivers, families, volunteers and friends gathered at the Azeka Shopping Center on Sunday to make monetary or toy donations.

Overall, Toys for Tots has been providing toys to children in need during the holidays since 1947 when Marine reservists in Los Angeles distributed 5,000 toys. The following year, Marine Corps reservists across the country made it a nationwide campaign.

A little over 3,000 stuffed animals, games, bikes and other toys were collected during the three-hour event on Sunday. Volunteers were also seen collecting monetary donations, which usually average between $15,000 to $20,000.

“The toy donations are on a whole other level and the quality of toys, people are really digging down deep and giving really nice toys now,” he said. “Now we got boogie boards, footballs, soccer balls.”

Throughout the morning, donors steadily dropped off wrapped or unwrapped gifts, walked through the parking lot to check out classic cars and Intense Motorsports Maui custom vehicles, purchased snacks, listened to Christmas music and dined at the surrounding restaurants. There were also door prizes being announced for those who donated and entered a raffle.

Santa Claus was also on site to spread holiday cheer.

Ron Panzo (left), president of the Maui County Street Bikers United, accepts a $12,000 donation from Kim Robello, marketing manager of Minit Stop, to contribute to the annual Maui Toys 4 Tots Motorcycle Toy Run.

Panzo noted that the growth of the event is “a testimony to the whole Maui community” as supporters help the organization care for kids all the way from Hana to Central Maui to West Maui as well as Lanai and Molokai.

With the help of the U.S. Coast Guard, 150 of the toys will be transported to keiki on Molokai next week, Panzo said before he joined a fleet of motorcyclists, including members of Mana Souls motorcycle club, at 10:45 a.m. for the annual Maui County Toys for Tots Run that traverses to Lahaina.

American Emergency Response personnel loaded the toys into the ambulance and bicycles were loaded into a double-hulled outrigger canoe.

“It’s definitely a community event,” he said.

Other sponsors include Minit Stop, Azeka Shopping Center, Cycle City, Ekolu Kitchen, Nalu’s South Shore Grill and others.

Kim Robello, marketing manager of Minit Stop, was happy to present Panzo with a $12,000 donation on Sunday and said that the business hopes to add “a little bit more” later.

“This is an awesome community,” Panzo said.

Donations can still be made at mauitoys4tots.org.

* Dakota Grossman can be reached at dgrossman@mauinews.com.

Toy donations were collected Sunday morning for a Toys 4 Tots donation drive event by Street Bikers United Hawaii — Maui Chapter at the Azeka Shopping Center. The Maui News / DAKOTA GROSSMAN photos Hundreds of motorcyclists, canoe paddlers, antique car drivers, families, volunteers and friends gathered at the Azeka Shopping Center on Sunday to make monetary or toy donations. Ron Panzo (left), president of the Maui County Street Bikers United, accepts a $12,000 donation from Kim Robello, marketing manager of Minit Stop, to contribute to the annual Maui Toys 4 Tots Motorcycle Toy Run.

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