BUSINESS connections Fall 2023 7 No child asked to be poor, and every child should receive a Christmas gift. This is the thinking behind the Jingle Bell Ride in Brown County, Kansas, which was held this year on November 12. Jingle Bell Ride is a Beloved Tradition The annual holiday event began in 1996 as One Last Ride, an opportunity for local horse enthusiasts to gather and collect a few toy donations for children in low-income families. The name was later changed to Jingle Bell Ride, and its scope expanded. Riders now come from as far away as Ohio, and hundreds of children in Brown County are each given a special toy to open on Christmas morning. The goal of the Jingle Bell Ride organizers is to see continued growth in the number of children helped each year. In addition, Jingle Bell Ride provides the families of these children with a family bag. Its contents will vary, depending on their needs and the donations received, but may include personal hygiene items, stocking stuffers, and diapers. Patti Merchant of Merchant Farms has been active in Jingle Bell Ride since the beginning. She said, “I’m proud of the way the community has supported the Jingle Bell Ride year after year. Residents generously donate toys and money to buy needed items, and businesses volunteer to be toy drop-off locations prior to the ride.” Each year, those in Hiawatha who prearrange to get on the home pickup list for toy donations can see Santa and his decorated team of horses and wagons come to their address on the day of the Jingle Bell Ride. Many people head outside that afternoon to catch a glimpse of the Christmas canvas that goes from neighborhood to neighborhood around town. The Jingle Bell Ride is a member of the Hiawatha Community Foundation and online donations can be made at any time through the foundation’s website at www.hiawathacf.org. There’s also a Jingle Bell Ride Fund as part of the Give Back to Move Forward program. Qualifying contributions on match day receive a 100%match that can be used for their most crucial needs. Rainbow is proud to be one of the sponsors of Give Back to Move Forward. For 27 years, gifts have been gathered for Brown County children Photo credit for all images: HiawathaWorld
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