On a Saturday morning in late November, a group of bikers began arriving at Cavender's Boot City in Beaumont, Texas. As one after another pulled into the parking lot it became apparent to casual observers this was no ordinary motorcycle club. This was, in fact, the Blue Knights of Texas.
The Blue Knights is an international motorcycle club consisting of current and former law enforcement officers who share the common interests of riding motorcycles and helping their local communities. The riders in Beaumont, Texas were members of the Blue Knights Texas 19 chapter. And as law enforcement officers, you can bet they weren't showing up at Cavender's Boot City to cause trouble. Instead, they chose the popular store as the meeting point for their annual Blue Santa Toy Run.
More than 70 bikers participated in the run, paying an entrance fee of either $20 or a toy of similar value. Both the toys and cash are used to supply underprivileged children with Christmas gifts. The event is now in its 13th year, originally having been established to help local police departments help underprivileged children through their own Blue Santa events. It's now become a staple of the international organization's annual civic activities.
Beyond just the cash and toys, the Blue Santa Toy Run serves as a reminder that there are many motorcycle clubs around the country doing great things for their communities. While it's true some of their custom club patches may look less than clean-cut, as do some of their members, the fact is many of these clubs love their communities and do what they can to make them better. The Blue Knights Texas 19 are just one example of a great local club that's really making a difference.
