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WILKES-BARRE — Even though it’s only October, about 80 bikers from local motorcycle clubs were feeling the Christmas spirit Saturday.
The motorcycle enthusiasts teamed with Geisinger Auxiliary to collect toys for needy children this holiday season, dropping them off at the Geisinger South Wilkes-Barre parking lot to conclude a 55-mile benefit ride.
The auxiliary, which is a volunteer team for the Geisinger hospitals of Northeastern Pennsylvania, raises money to donate to the hospital for expenses not covered by the budget. One of the events they put on every year is a Christmas party that is free of charge to local families where each child receives a toy.
Santa Claus, adorned in a red suit and black motorcycle boots, greeted the riders as they pulled in with the toys.
“We just get together and do this every year for the kids. It’s something we enjoy doing, and it’s for a good cause,” said the man playing Santa, who did not reveal his name. “It’s all for the kids.”
The bike clubs have been collecting toys for years, though this is only their second year working with Geisinger.
“It’s fantastic. It’s always great to give back to the community,” commented Steve Cerullo from the Flying Aces club of the Weatherly area. “It’s great to see the smiling faces. It’s very humbling.”
“Each person that comes on the run brings a toy, and that’s their donation to the run itself, and the federation of clubs together takes a donation and we buy the bulk toys with that,” Cerullo explained. For Saturday’s ride, the clubs rode from Keystone Harley-Davidson in Lehighton to Geisinger South Wilkes-Barre.
Bear Goliembeski, vice president of the Wyoming Valley Motorcycle Club, also brought toys to the collection.
“We do this every year for the children. We donate toys for them, and hopefully, they appreciate it,” Goliembeski explained. “It’s important for the biker community so people can understand us and what good we do for the community.”
“Bikers have big hearts. Very big hearts,” he continued.
Laine Martin, a volunteer with the auxiliary, said the free children’s party is set for 10 a.m. to noon Saturday, Dec. 2, and “all are welcome.”
“Without the bikers’ help, we couldn’t be doing this event because they bring all the toys to us,” said Martin. “The auxiliary will wrap and have toys organized to age group. We have music, face painting, balloon artists, the princesses from Disney, and the kids then get a gift from Santa and a snack bag.”
To attend the party, RSVP by calling 570-808-3651 and specify the child’s name, age, clothing size, and if they’d like a boy’s or girl’s toy. The event will be held on the Geisinger South Wilkes-Barre campus.
