OUR LEGACY:

In 1993, Bill & Sheri found a “need” in the community and felt there was something to be done to help. Their friends agreed. With those friend’s help a toy run came to be and in Dec. 1993, 18 kids received several gifts each. A great Christmas! The toy run consisted of 17 motorcycles, a few cars and about 45 people. It was freezing cold; no one cared once the kids started unwrapping presents. The event in 2008 brought some 1000 to 1200 folks with gifts passing them out to 500 children and young adults. In the 15 years the toy run has existed you, the people who make it happen, have provided over 2,500 children with Christmas presents making their and your holiday season memorable. Please make it one of the best days of the year for you and yours.

The goal is to provide the "Forgotten" children falling through the system, age newborn to 18-years, and those with Special Needs in Brandon, Seffner, Mango, Thonotosassa, Dover, Valrico, Riverview area communities with gifts and special memories of the holiday season. These children come from single parent homes, live with grandparents on fixed incomes, are "Special Needs" (any age) or the provider has been disabled. Their income is limited, they don’t receive any government help or very little and there just isn't anything left after necessities.  Without you they would have nothing for Christmas. Councilors from schools in the area are contacted and provide the majority of the children attending. They have done a very good job in helping to provide children not on other charity lists. Personal recommendations are accepted. If you know children who need special memories for the holiday, please contact us. We do not accept recommendations from families already receiving an application to bring children for presents.

Veteran’s Memorial Park on Hwy 301 S. in Tampa permits the use of the park as the staging point, the first Sunday of every December. While waiting for everyone to arrive, an auction and raffle are held along with 50/50 raffle tickets sold. Auction and raffle items are donated by local businesses or purchased. All raffle tickets purchased have the chance to win the 50/50 raffle (half to winner-half to charities). Throughout the years, folks winning have donated all or most of the money back to the charities involved. At 1:00 PM, a 20-mile “country” ride takes place heading North on Hwy 301, out Harney Rd. and around the Lake Thonotosassa area on some terrific country roads. We no longer have the Sherriff’s Office escorting our country ride. Direction maps are provided for those who want to enjoy the “Country” ride. It’s a great ride and we want everyone to enjoy the beautiful mostly shaded country roads safely so we ask that small groups follow the route.

Of course, arriving at the main event is where the fun really begins. You pass out Presents and at 2:30 PM, you become a part of the delight. You personally give the gifts and see them unwrapped. Smiles! Laughter! Joy! Tears of Happiness! Talk about “Priceless”…. It gets very emotional! There’s a decorated vehicle show with motorcycles, cars, trucks, dune buggies and old cars with trophies for the best along with some activities for the kids and of course, Santa Claus.

Over 10,000 flyers are distributed throughout the area. When the flyers come out, people start talking of the toy run’s that have come before. People get involved. The Down Home, Make You Feel Good All Over Cookson Hills Toy Run truly belongs to everyone. You make it happen. Please help promote the event by passing the flyers out to your family, friends and businesses.

You personally give the gifts and see them unwrapped. Every dime that comes in the day of the toy run from the auction, raffles, private donations, T-shirt and drink sales is counted and announced. Charity organizations invited that attend the event receive a share of the monies collected that day. No wondering, you see it happen.

Cookson Hills Toy Run is about Kids. We are proud to help some of the community charities by sharing the generosity of those who attend the auction and raffles. Those of you who make this event a success, we haven’t the ability to name each deserving individual or business. If you have a business, you may not get “Recognition”. You will witness everything little thing you do is greatly appreciated from the smiles around you. Seeing the happiness you pass on to children who have been “Forgotten” will fill you with the true spirit of the holiday season. Your heart will be full! We THANK YOU from our hearts. 

In 1993, Bill & Sheri Brown began this quest when they went to a yard sale at then, Cookson Hills Christian Ministries Children’s Home, now C. H. Family Ministries of Florida, Inc. where they met the director who took them on a tour of the home, during which he described the set-up and something of the financial structure. Family Ministries has been in Seffner for some twenty years. The home is for abused and “at risk” children in Florida. Those who participate in the toy run have witnessed the lives Family Ministries have affected so positively. Family Ministries has a very different approach to succeeding in their endeavor to re-unite children and parents into families. You helped Family Ministries continue their incredible success including opening a school for those “at risk” children.

Unfortunately, due to several concerns from C. H. Family Ministries, after the 2008 event we were advised it would be the last year the toy run could be held at the Family Ministries property. Cookson Hills Toy Run succeeded in bringing the communities attention to Family Ministries and helping them achieve their undertaking to help “at risk” children. For 15 years ALL Monies collected was given to Family Ministries Children’s Home. During our tenure more than $65,000 in money, supplies, food, construction materials, professional assistance and other donations were provided to the children’s home. If you wish to assist in their endeavor, please send your monetary donations directly to Family Ministries of Florida, 131 New Legacy Dr., Seffner, FL 33584 or call Director: Bob Sharp * Phone: (813) 681-1942.

The new location will be Evans Park, 1104 North Kingsway Road,Seffner, FL 33684
(off Hwy. 92, next to Burnett Middle School). Monies donated during the event will be distributed to local community charities along with purchasing toys. Invited charities in attendance at the event will receive the same assistance in bringing their needs to the community’s awareness that Family Ministries has benefited from the Cookson Hills Toy Run.

Bill & Sheri with the help of sponsors pay expenses for the toy run along with several who volunteer helping to keep everything organized. Young and adult volunteers are needed. Teenagers needing Community Service hours are very welcome. We give those volunteers 8 hours and the schools have accepted our letters of their volunteer services. Cookson Hills Toy Run is a Florida registered Non-Profit. We have applied for a 501c3 Federal Tax deductible designation and hope to have it by the Dec. 6, 2009 event date.

If you’ve never been to a toy run you are in for a unique encounter, those who have already been in attendance know, you don’t want to miss “The Down Home, Make You Feel Good All Over Cookson Hills Toy Run”. This is a “family” event bringing the community and “Bikers” together imparting a new understanding and harmony between the two cultures. We look forward to you, your family and friends joining our quest to bring joy to children and a new spirit in your heart for the Holiday Season.

For information regarding the toy run, please contact Bill or Sheri Brown at 813-643-5758: E-mail: Cooksontoyrun@aol.com. Web site: www.cooksontoyrun.com.

God Bless – Bill & Sheri Brown