The blasts of revving engines nearly drowned out the sound of Bon Jovi’s “Livin’ on a Prayer” as hundreds of motorcyclists pulled into the Heath Walmart parking lot on Nov. 2.
In the back of the parking lot sat what seemed like endless toys: A bear, a board game, a water gun – all tied to the back of motorcycles – to be donated to the Salvation Army to give to children in need on Christmas morning.
Bikers, some dressed in leather, some dressed as Santa Claus, put their kickstands down in this central Ohio parking lot with one motivation: the kids.
“You want to wake up on Christmas morning and know the kids are taken care of,” said Lenny Stowers, head of Rolling Thunder Toy Run. “Everybody is here for one reason and one reason only: the kids.”
For the past 38 years, participants in the Rolling Thunder Toy Run have driven the streets of Licking County, delivering toys from Walmart to the Salvation Army in Newark.
Major Larry Wittenberg, of the Salvation Army, is new to Newark, and this was his first year experiencing Rolling Thunder.
“I always joke that I arrived in Newark on the 25th of June, and on the 26th of June, I was hearing about Rolling Thunder,” Wittenberg said. “I’ve seen a lot of events in the years I’ve been in the Salvation Army. I’ve never seen anything near the magnitude of what they did on Sunday.”
That morning, Walmart was busy with bikers buying toys, though some brought previously purchased toys or made monetary donations instead.
According to Wittenberg, bikers spent over $22,000 on toys in Walmart, and they collected $3,800 in cash donations and checks. This amount does not account for the monetary value of the gifts that were pre-purchased and brought to the event.
There was a 50/50 drawing amounting to about $1,100. The man who won the drawing decided to donate his half back to the Salvation Army. He wished to stay anonymous to keep the spotlight on the cause.
“Here we have a bunch of good bikers,” Stowers said. “They are all good people. They wouldn’t be here if they weren’t.”
After gathering together in the parking lot, they paraded around Newark, throwing candy to viewers seated in folding camp chairs that lined the streets, before departing for the Salvation Army.
“It’s always heartwarming and brings a little tear to my eyes when they start the parade, and everybody’s going by with their toys strapped to the motorcycles and the trucks full of bicycles and everything,” said Kristy Hawthorne, who manages social media for the toy run.
Several people reached out to Hawthorne over social media, telling her about a relative or a loved one that used to ride in the parade and has since died – often making monetary donations in their memories.
And though it was a motorcycle run, there were families that were shopping at Walmart, saw that it was going on, and made donations, Hawthorne said.
Hawthorne has been involved with the motorcycling community for almost 30 years.
“We’re big-hearted people that come out for many charity events. I think the idea of kids having Christmas just hits home with so many people,” Hawthorne said.
She also emphasized the event brings different types of motorcyclists together.
“There was every make and model of motorcycles from Harleys to Hondas to Can-Ams. It was just a matrix of motorcycling groups. Everybody can come together to help the kids, because it’s not about the motorcycle, the type of motorcycles that they ride or the groups that they’re affiliated with – it’s just about helping the kids,” Hawthorne said.
Stacey Sherman traveled an hour to get to the event. She is a part of AMVETS Riders Chapter 51, of Thornville, Ohio.
“People are afraid of bikers, but they are so giving and so caring,” Sherman said. She gestured to those around her and the big trucks full of toys in order to demonstrate her point.
Roger Lee, AMVETS Riders Chapter 51 president, emphasized the display of camaraderie and support of the local community as this event. He explained that the AMVETS riders do their own fundraising events in addition to showing up at bigger events like the toy run.
“We ride with a purpose,” Lee said.
“We don’t just go out and ride. We are always riding for a cause,” Eric, another member of the group, added.
Sherman said one of her favorite parts of the event is passing out candy to the kids watching during the parade.
“To see their faces is so cute, it makes you want to go and buy more,” she said.
She wishes she could see the kids’ faces on Christmas morning when they open their presents.
Stowers started the Rolling Thunder Toy Run 38 years ago, and he’s been in charge ever since.
The idea came from his old bike club in Newark. They would do similar charity events. So when the club fell apart, Stowers decided the toy run was the event he would carry on.
The fourth annual toy run fell during a blizzard. Only four bikers rode – Stowers and three others. But they still paraded along through the snow.
This year, Stowers estimates 1,200 bikers participated. Their biggest year has been close to 1,600. Hawthorne shared a preliminary count of 827 bikers participating in the parade.
This year, it seems as if every motorcycle in Licking County is in the parking lot.
But, it’s not just Licking County. Bikers come from all over Ohio, some even further. Stowers said he’s seen bikers from as far as Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.
Motorcycles of all kinds and colors are lined up in distinct rows. Among them sits Nick Tefft, there with friends Josh Maynard and Bobby and Caitlin Morelock.
It’s Tefft’s fourth year at the event, he’s here to help the kids and get out of the house. He doesn’t get to ride much in November due to the weather, so he was thankful for the parade.
In the back of the lot, Tim Talbott has piled up toys in his ‘57 Chevy. He holds his big dog, Elmo in his hands. Elmo, a big fan of belly rubs, is pleased with the amount of attention.
Talbott doesn’t ride a motorcycle, instead he and his dog Elmo drove the old farm truck transporting some of the toys through the parade. It’s his second year participating in Rolling Thunder Toy Run.
One of the groups, God’s Crusaders, attended their second toy drive of the weekend. The first was the Motorcyclists for Kids Toy Drive in Zanesville, Ohio on Saturday. The second was Rolling Thunder. For them, this weekend was to support the kids. God’s Crusaders is a motorcycle ministry aimed at spreading the word of God.
For Rick Williams, it’s his 21st year participating. Now, he is here with his 18-year-old daughter. He’s been bringing her since she was 5.
Connie Thackery and Mike Richard are here for their first time. Thackery is perched up on her motorcycle, resting her foot in a boot atop of it.
“We have never been in this toy drive so we wanted to be a part of it for the kids,” Thackery said. “I’m probably the only one here in a boot,” she laughed.
Each year the Salvation Army takes applications from families for presents for their kids. Hawthorne explained that this year’s need is a little bit bigger. In the past, the Salvation Army has been able to supply two weeks’ worth of food while the kids are out of school, in combination with the Christmas gifts.
“This year they do not have the funds to be able to provide those extra two weeks of food,” Hawthorne shared.
She emphasized the need for continued support of the Salvation Army and shared that they take volunteers for toy distribution.
At 1 p.m. in the Walmart parking lot it’s time to put their kickstands up. Helmets clasp and engines start: the parade is about to begin. They file out of the parking lot, behind trucks of donated toys, accompanied by the sound of thunder.
Ella Diehl writes for TheReportingProject.org, the nonprofit news organization of Denison University’s Journalism program, which is supported by generous donations from readers. Sign up for The Reporting Project newsletter here.