March 29, 2024

Stalker Chevrolet to host seventh annual ‘Santa’s Silverado Sleigh’

Stalker Chevrolet is collecting toys for its seventh annual Santa’s Silverado Sleigh.

The toys collected will be donated to MATURA in Union County to give out to children and families in need.

Ron Higgins said Stalker Chevrolet began this program seven years ago because he was inspired after noticing there was a need for toys for families with children.

We had seen those things where you adopt a family ... We thought it would be cool to help more than one family, so instead of doing that, we thought this would be a good idea,” said Higgins.

The staff at Stalker Chevrolet try to collect more toys each year than the previous year. So far they have been successful in that.

“We’ve had some other participants from other businesses doing fundraising for this toy drive,” said Higgins.

Most of the toys donated in the past have been geared towards younger children but there is a need for toys and items for older children and teens as well, such as gift cards, makeup, perfume, and stocking stuffers.

Used toys will not be accepted. Individuals are welcome to donate new, unwrapped toys, andwrapping paper which is given to the parents to wrap the toys they are given for their children.

“We donate this to the local MATURA so it does stay in our area here,” said Higgins.

MATURA then organizes donated items by age to distribute to children and teens in Union and surrounding counties they serve.

Santa’s Silverado Sleigh, a 2019 Chevrolet Silverado 1500 is the truck in which they collect the toys and will be in the Lighted Christmas Parade again this year,.

New, unwrapped toys, wrapping supplies and monetary donations for new toys can be dropped off 8 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. Monday through Friday and Saturday 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. Nov. 13 to Dec. 14 at Stalker Chevrolet, 601 S. Sumner Ave.