Toy run produces about 40 toys, $300 in donations

link Joshua Lucero: Staff photo: Los Reyes members drop off new toys into the Santa Cop donation box at the police department. Each toy run participant brought a new, unwrapped toy to be donated during Saturday’s event.

Los Reyes Motorcycle and Car Club and the Portales Police Department teamed up Saturday to bring Roosevelt County children a toy-filled Christmas this year.

Bikers and car enthusiasts were invited to enter Saturday’s toy run for a fee and an unwrapped toy to donate.

Participants were escorted by police for two laps around the city as they brought toys to the police station to donate to the department’s Santa Cop program.

Portales Police Department’s Mickie Gonzales said this year is the first year that the department has teamed up with the club, but hopes it won’t be the last.

Gonzales said more than 40 bikers and car enthusiasts signed up at the Portales Recreation Center Saturday morning to participate. Each participant paid a $10 entry fee and brought a new toy to donate.

Gonzales said the toy run brought in more than $300 in donations and more than 40 toys to give out during the Santa Cop toy distribution on Dec. 20.

“We would like to do it again next year,” Gonzales said. “Everybody had a lot of fun.”