From margins to miracles: Bikers bring Christmas to Bosque County children in need
Nearly four-decade tradition brings Central Texas riders together to support local children
BOSQUE COUNTY, Texas (KWTX) - Dozens of motorcyclists gathered for a special holiday tradition that has been bringing joy to local children for nearly four decades.
The roar of dozens of motorcycles filled the air as riders from across Central Texas came together for one mission. Each rider carried a toy, loading up their bikes before hitting the road to Meridian.
Leading the pack was Thomas Barber, dressed as Santa Claus and serving as the ride’s organizer for the past two decades.
“We’re all riders from all walks of life, different organizations, and we just all come together to take care of the kids and work and serve our community,” Barber said. “All of us, the motorcyclist community, care about taking care of the children, care about making a difference.”,
The Central Texas tradition started in the mid-1980s when a local motorcyclist felt the community needed to do something special for children during the holidays. What began as a small group of motorcyclists has grown into an annual event that typically draws between 40 to 150 riders.
Among the participants were several veterans, including Jerry Robinson, who was taking part for the first time.
“I did it for the kids. We have a lot of kids in our community that need help, somebody has to step up,” Robinson said. “And we do this a lot as carebikers. Every time we see the opportunity to help our community, we get out and we do it.”
For Barber, it’s about showing compassion to those who feel forgotten.
“There are people living in the margins, ,and we have to show love and compassion to those individuals that live in the margins and not allow them to be invisible because they’re not,” Barber said. “They’re humans and we need to care for them.”
With a prayer for protection, the riders fired up their engines and hit the road to Meridian, their mission simple: make sure no child is forgotten this Christmas.
“When you watch a child that has nothing receive something,, or you get an opportunity to pray with that child and make that child smile, and then to watch their parents smile because they see a happy child,” Barber said. “That’s just an absolutely incredible blessing and there’s no better feeling than that.”
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