OGDEN -- Herman wants a nice warm blanket. Sarah wants a book. George would like some Coors beer please. Lois wants some chocolate.
Because of the generosity of a group of motorcycle riders, senior citizens in some local nursing homes will get their Christmas wishes.
For the past 10 years, members of the Weber Chapter of American Bikers Aiming Toward Education (ABATE) have been delivering items from seniors' wish lists, and singing Christmas carols to them too.
"It's unbelievable what it does to both you and the seniors," said Eric Stine, state education coordinator for the group. "It makes you feel so good for taking half a day out of your life to spread joy to others who probably don't have a whole lot."
Stine said 10 years ago the group had some extra money in its budget. His own father, former Ogden attorney Richard Stine, was in an adult day care center at the time and his grandmother, Gladys, was a resident at Wasatch Care in Ogden. During Stine's visits he noticed some of the residents didn't have much, so he pitched the idea of a "senior Christmas run" to the group. Everyone liked the idea.
"My mom, Dottie, had been very active with the Junior League of Ogden for years and I was talking to her about it," Stine said. "We got her a list of names and she went out and did all of the shopping and put everything together with their names on the gifts. Then we would all meet and organize everything and ride up to the rest homes and deliver them to the residents."
The group usually meets at a designated location before heading to the rest homes, Stine said. Dressed in black leather, bandanas and Santa hats, dozens of bikers load up their Harleys with the gifts and ride in unison to their designated locations.
Once inside, the group mingles with the residents and gives them their personal gifts. Christmas carols are sung and a prayer is given.
In addition to the senior run, the group also holds an annual toy run where the group collects toys, food and clothing for needy children and families at Christmastime. The group also collects teddy bears for police and firefighters to hand out to children during domestic calls or health emergencies. The group also participates in a highway clean up project each summer and participates in several other events, including Footsteps to Light and Sub for Santa. Members of the group teach motorcycle safety in 22 Utah high school driver's education classes.
"We always try to have someone down at the Legislature every year to make our presence known," said Stine. "We are very involved politically. We also have a memorial run every year where we remember our brothers and sisters we have lost over the years."
Stephen Thompson, president of ABATE, said the group will continue with its charitable projects for years to come.
"I have a hard time not crying at the rest homes we visit," said Thompson. "We continue to do this because it gives everyone such a great sense of reward. I think our seniors are the most neglected segment of our society. We spend a lot of time and attention on our children, which we should, but we should spend quality time with our seniors as well."
Thompson said he hopes the public will realize that ABATE is not a bunch of beer drinking, scary, rabble-rousing troublemakers.
"We believe in being active in our community, both charitably and politically," Thompson said. "We do a lot of good and will always do a lot of good. Going out and helping our fellow man is what we are all about."
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