Bikers for Brats answers Christmas wishes of local children

 

[December 28, 2021] 

This year, more than 120 children were surprised with a special visit with Santa and a heaping on of some really great gifts.

The event was held on Christmas Eve in the in the parking lot at the corner of North Logan and Fifth Street, with permission from Zion Lutheran Church in order to also utilize the little log cabin church on that same corner.

The event called “Bikers for Brats” is in its third year of Santa and friends handing out presents to children who might not have received as much as others this Christmas season.

Dale Swinford, who also was the Santa for this event, is the coordinator for the activity with help from his wife as Mrs. Santa and several of his biker buddies.

Swinford and a group of folks who enjoy taking their bikes out together decided a couple of years ago that they wanted to do something special for less fortunate children in Lincoln and Logan County. They came up with Bikers for Brats and outlined a plan on how to implement their idea.

The biker buddies put the word out that the event would take place. An application form was designed, and then the group waited as applications came in.

To help finance the giving project, the group hosted some fundraisers including bike rides, t-shirt sales and raffles. They also accepted cash donations from anyone who wanted to help.

Gifts for each applicant were purchased by Swinford, with his personal “Mrs. Santa” handling the majority of the wrapping gifts.

In 2020, Santa collected 83 applications and went door to door delivering the gifts to excited children on Christmas Eve.

This year, there were 122 applicants. Swinford and his helpers decided that they wouldn’t have time to drive to every home and deliver the gifts. They utilized the parking lot and asked family members to bring their children to Santa.

On Friday, Santa was joined by several friends including the Grinch (the one that returned Christmas) and Frosty the Snowman. Peggy’s Place provided hot chocolate and cookies for all the children.
 

Swinford was excited about the opportunity to show a little love to children in the community. He said this year it was easier on everyone because the weather was so warm. He remembered not so fondly that last year the weather had been brutal and delivery of all those gifts had been a big challenge for himself and his friends. This year it was much easier, but no less special.

Thanks to all the biker buddies and those who supported them for making Christmas a little more special for some deserving children in our community.

[Nila Smith, Karen Hargis & Tonya Matthews]