Eagle Riders holding toy donation drive

The Havre Eagle Riders and friends will be conducting their second annual donation drive Thursday, with members and their supporters visiting Havre businesses to collect donations for the group’s toy drive that helps to provide toys to youth in families struggling with financial needs.

Starting at 11 a.m., organizer Candace Dess said, the volunteers, including Santa, will be handing out candy canes and asking businesses and individuals for donations of toys and money for the program. Money, she added, will be used to buy presents for older youth and specific requests.

Last year, Dess said, the group collected $700 in four hours, and people asked if they would do it again this year.

The group gets referrals of families in need from people and from agencies, like Feed My Sheep Soup Kitchen and Salvation Army. Organizers coordinate with local programs so they don’t get any crossover, which helps insure that more people get helped. Some of the children that the Eagle Rider toy program helps are too old for other services such as the Angel Tree, Dess said.

Eagle Riders are still taking referrals and donations, Dess said, until the Dec. 20. People wanting to make a donation can call Tom Farnham during business hours at the Eagles Club, 265-9551, or Dess at 262-0498. Toys can also be placed in drop boxes set up at North 40 Outfitters, Walmart, Gary & Leo’s Fresh Foods, Ben Franklin Crafts, fivehead’s, Eagles Club and Old Station Brewing until Dec. 20.

Organizers are still working out a COVID-19 compliant system for getting the gifts to families, Dess said, but right now they are thinking they will set up a schedule with appointments set at 15-minute intervals.