Residents and business houses of Lithgow, Wallerawang and Portland showed overwhelming support for the annual event that has now been conducted for a landmark twenty two years.

Four utes, one station wagon and trailer plus Santa's old 1964 EH Holden station wagon were loaded to overflowing with toys, games, books and bikes to aid a local charity Christmas appeal.

Not everyone in the local area has the good fortune of having a special Christmas with gifts for their children, a problem witnessed first hand.

So the street machine enthusiasts collected this huge amount of toys to give the underprivileged local kids and their struggling families a great Christmas.

A huge thank you goes out to the Lithgow Mercury, Barbara Orr and Bob Barnsley at Radio 2LT, Rich and Kellie Evans at the Village Voice, My Butcher On Main, Westend Newsagency, Kings Auto Parts, R&A Chainsaws & Mowers, Bill Evans Mechanical Repairs, Wollemi Bakery in Lithgow, Wallerawang Bakery, Lithgow Bearings Bolts & Fasteners plus Ian Thomas and staff at B&L Livestock and Real Estate Portland for acting as collection points –you are all very charitable people.

A huge thank you the many local residents who phoned up requesting pick up of toys along with Jack & Jill Preschool and the fantastic people who donated toys and books at the drop off points – we wish you all a wonderful Christmas and better times ahead.

This year Santa's helpers included Carol and John Farrar, Kevin and Jenny McKinney, Lindsay and Susanne Yeo, Dave Martin, Lyn Ellery and Les Taylor.

Marion Lamb and her assistants at the Wallerawang Christian Youth Centre now have the huge job of sorting and wrapping the toys before being delivered to the needy children of our local area ready to put a huge smile on their faces on Christmas day.

Collection for next year's toy run has already begun in readiness for another record effort for the district's children who have no chance of celebrating this fabulous time of giving and joy with our much needed and appreciated charity organisations.

The spirit of Christmas giving is certainly alive in our community and may the street machine enthusiasts take this opportunity to wish the staff at the Lithgow Mercury, all the readers and everyone who made this toy run an outstanding success a very merry Christmas and a safe, healthy, happy new year.

CORRECTION

The Lithgow Mercury incorrectly included the street machines toy run in an article about the Lithgow District Ulysses Club’s annual Christmas toy run on page seven of Tuesday’s edition. The toy runs are two separate events.