Poker run, raffle raise $1,000 for charity

By Jim Maniaci
Cibola County Bureau

GRANTS — The Christmas spirit rolled through the biting winter temperatures in Grants and Milan on Sunday afternoon as some 65 people rode 4-wheel and 2-wheel vehicles in the 13th annual Toys for Tots Poker Run.

But for 2007, the local Toys for Tots program which also covers Cubero and Seyboyeta in eastern Cibola County won't have as much money to spend for Christmas toys for children and teenagers.

"That means that instead of $15 toys, they will get $10 toys," explained co-chair Marylou Savedra to the crowd in the Elks Lodge on Sunday afternoon after the 2-hour run. She also explained that collections this year will be used next year meaning people can donate anytime during the year.

Donors should contact Marylou or Raymond Savedra at 287-9201 or mail donations to Toys for Tots, 219 Adams Ave., Grants, N.M., 87020.

And anyone knowing of a family with children who need toys for Christmas should contact the Savedras, Bernie's Route 66 Motorcycle Shop on Santa Fe Avenue or the Grants-Cibola County Chamber of Commerce for an application. Applications are used to find an appropriate gift for the youth, based on gender and age, and to avoid duplication of effort since churches, schools and organizations are contacted.

Since approximately $5,900 was contributed last year, that is how much is available for this year, Mrs. Savedra said. This includes a $2,000 grant from the national headquarters in Virginia.

Whatever the time, she added, gifts for teenagers of both genders are needed, especially fragrances and hair care products.

Sunday's poker run drew 50 hands, with drivers including Santa Claus riding in a red Corvette making four stops before their final and fifth check-in at the Elks Lodge. Some vehicles carried more than one person with individual entry sheets.

The high hand belonged to Marvelina Ewell of Grants; the low hand to Jerry Garlor of Milan. One rider came from Albuquerque and another from Crownpoint.

The run and an accompanying raffle of dozens upon dozens of door prizes added $1,050, with the assistance of a handful of Grants High School U.S. Marine Corps JROTC members. Now, Marylou Savedra said, the local program will depend upon donations from corporate sponsors to add to the more than $1,600 which has been collected for next year. There were so many door prizes, it took longer to conduct the raffle than the run.

Last year's run drew almost twice as many entrants and raised around $1,500 toward the $5,900 available for Christmas 2006.

Drivers began the run by drawing a card at the Elks Lodge, followed by other cards at Milan Supermart, Wal-Mart, Smiths supermarket and a fifth and final card at the Elks Lodge. Raymond Savedra noted toys being donated at other stops, including the Kiva Cafe-Chevron, Love's and Petro truck stops, all in Milan, and at the new Dollar Tree store in Grants.

This added up to about three more boxes of toys, on display at the lodge hall, along with the boxes at several local businesses into which gifts can be placed. If the donor wishes to wrap the gift, he or she should make sure to add a tag listing the gender and age for which it is designed.

Last year more than 700 children and adolescents received about 1,500 gifts, Marylou Savedra said.

Laguna and Acoma pueblos also operate Toys for Tots drives in Cibola County. The program is sponsored by the U.S. Marine Corps Reserve and is in its 48th year nationally.

To contact reporter Jim Maniaci in Grants, telephone 285-6184 or (505) 870-7775 (cellular).