Upcoming 22nd Annual ACE Basin A.B.A.T.E. Christmas Toy Run

Posted

By Andy Ann

The 22nd Annual ACE Basin A.B.A.T.E. Christmas Toy Run project is currently underway to collect Christmas toy donations for children in need who live in Colleton County.

The ACE Basin A.B.A.T.E. (A Brotherhood Against Totalitarian Enactments) is a motorcycle organization advocating for biker rights in South Carolina. The organization members and their friends have a firm belief that it is important to give back to the community and those in need.

The Colleton Baptist Association (CBA) sponsors the annual Colleton Baptist Association Christmas Project. The local A.B.A.T.E. chapter has adopted this project as a charity and works with CBA in partnership to propel the program.

The two organizations work together, collecting donations to help local children and families in Colleton County at Christmas with new clothes, toy gifts, and food boxes. The motorcyclists ride for miles all over the Lowcountry gathering toys and raising money.

Currently, all the collection jugs and barrels have been placed in local businesses.

The participating business include:

COTTAGEVILLE: Bee City Zoo at 1066 Holly Ride Ln.

EDISTO: O’Hair by Lisa at 1444 Hwy. 174

RUFFIN: Ruffin Farm Supply at 11382 Bells Hwy.,

SUMMERVILLE: The Mortgage Firm at 502 N. Pine St.

WALTERBORO: Ace Hardware at 1050 Bells Hwy., A.H.A.B.s at 255 E. Washington St., All Country Real Estate at 689 Bells Hwy., Barrel House at 104 Robertson Blvd., Body Basics by Natalie at 236 E. Washington St., Cannalina Hemp Company at 126 N. Memorial St., Clayton Homes at 2354 Jefferies Hwy., Attorney Dan Boles at 248 E. Washington St., Farm Bureau at 1206 N. Jefferies Blvd., Foodland at 199 Ireland Creek Dr., Front Porch Salon at 3554 Sidney’s Rd., Island Tan at 623 Bells Hwy., Josie’s Flower Barn at 840 S. Jefferies Blvd., Main Street Grille at 256 E. Washington St., Olde House Cafe’ at 1274 Bells Hwy., Palmetto Parcels at 1033 Bells Hwy., Paper Converters at 1298 Thunderbolt Dr., Piggly Wiggly at 299 Bells Hwy., Sarah’s Salon at 2553 Jefferies Hwy., Simply Yours’ Interiors at 1260 Bells Hwy., The Press and Standard at 1025 Bells Hwy., Walker Accounting at 1476 Jefferies Hwy., and Walterboro Eye Care Center at 201 Eddie Chasteen Dr.

The community members are invited to participate in this collection by dropping off monetary donations or an unwrapped gift at any listed participating business locations between now and Dec 1.

The toy run event day is set for Saturday, Dec. 3, at the Elks Lodge in Walterboro. Registration begins at 9 a.m., riders leave at 10:30 a.m., and the last bike-in starts at 3 p.m.

For bikers who want to join the run, the entry is $20 for each rider and $10 for each passenger or a toy equivalent or greater than the registration fee. The ride includes a meal. The first stop is at Crocketville Country Store with lunch provided for the rider and passenger. The second stop is at Skynyrd’s Grill & Sports Bar in St. George, and the third is at Barrel House Grille in Walterboro.

Starting at 3 p.m.. a spaghetti dinner will be available for carry-out only for a $10 donation. Monetary or toy donations will also be accepted for drop-off as well.

All monetary and toy donations collected for the children of Colleton County will be presented to the Colleton County Baptist Association starting at 5 p.m.

The ACE Basin chapter coordinator is Ray Richards and the events coordinator is Sandy White. For more information about the A.B.A.T.E. motorcycle organization please call Richards at 803-491-5145 or White at 843-568-8915. Emails can also be sent to ace-basin-chapter-coordinator@abateofsc.org.