The BPM Motorcycle Club will team up with the Vigilant Guardians VMC this Saturday, Nov. 22, at the Anoka American Legion, 400 W. Main St., to host its annual Toys for Joy fundraiser, a 17-year community tradition that donates all proceeds and toys to local families. Doors open at 5 p.m., and tickets are $20.
This is the first year the Vigilant Guardians will partner in the event.
James Hathaway, a BPM representative, said the club has been in Anoka for 17 years, and he has helped lead the Toys for Joy drive for 16 of them.
“We started out doing this, and we raised $2,000 a chapter,” Hathaway said. “Now we’re up to $14,000 per event.”
One hundred percent of the proceeds go to Toys for Joy, along with all donated toys.
The club will arrive on site at 4 p.m. to prepare dinner, which members cook themselves. The menu will include turkey, ham, mashed potatoes, gravy, corn, pasta salads and “a ton” of desserts.
“We do it as a team, we’re a club,” Hathaway said.
After dinner setup, members will organize the silent auction, which includes Ed Sheeran tickets, gift certificates from Anoka businesses, homemade items and new products.
“Just about everything you could ever ask for,” Hathaway said.
Hathaway said he will personally donate an eagle plaque he made.
Dinner will be served at 5 p.m., followed by live music at 6, and the silent auction around 8.
“We usually do raffle tickets and stuff like that,” Hathaway said, “for all the little gift cards that people give us.” All proceeds go to Toys for Joy.
Those wishing to deliver toys can bring them to the Anoka American Legion, 400 West Main St., or give them to a BPM member or Vigilant Guardian. All setup will be completed before doors open at 5 p.m.
BPM started the event as a way to give back to the community.
“Each one of us has our own job skills and everything, and we just want to give back to the community,” Hathaway said. “Because we throw a lot of parties during the year, but this is something we do for the kids.”
He said the event has become a club routine that brings members joy.
“We have the Anoka Legion that donates its space for this,” Hathaway said, “and the Legion Riders help support us.”
The event began as a competition among chapters to see who could raise the most money, and it kept growing. Chapters included Anoka, New Prague, St. Cloud and the Iron Range.
BPM also hosts Bouja Days in St. Cloud, where members make their own Bouja soup — a hearty, old-style soup that takes six days to make.
“Just about everything goes in it,” Hathaway said.