By Josh Hall (Twitter: @Vancan19)

Harley Davidson kicks off season for Red Deer Christmas Bureau

Oct 21, 2018 | 11:09 AM

The busy season has officially begun for the Red Deer Christmas Bureau.

That’s right, Christmas is just 65 days away.

On Saturday, one of the year’s first Bureau fundraisers was held at Gasoline Alley Harley Davidson, where a toy run was cancelled back in September thanks to snow.

The company decided to incorporate a toy drive instead during its customer appreciation day.

“The Christmas Bureau is near and dear to our hearts because there are so many people in Red Deer who don’t get to experience what Christmas is all about,” says Fonda Devereaux, marketing manager at Harley Davidson. “Harley Davidson is very community-based, it’s all about giving, and the bikers in Red Deer are extremely generous.”

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Typically with a toy run, riders have to pay a registration fee, so because it was cancelled, the local Harley Owners Group (HOG) put up $2000 towards the Christmas Bureau to compensate.

The store also collected several bins full of new toys and contributed an extra $500.

“We’re always very fortunate here in Red Deer that we have great people who donate every year and help us be able to do this for families that can’t do it on their own,” says Teresa Kutynec, Christmas Bureau president. “I never have any fear that people won’t come through for us.”

Kutynec notes monetary donations are more than welcome and citizens are invited to join the Bureau’s 200-member volunteer team.

Several fundraisers will be held for the Christmas Bureau in the run-up to Dec. 25, and families looking to apply for toys or Christmas dinner hampers can begin doing so on Nov. 5.

More information is at RedDeerChristmasBureau.com.