Truth
NAXJA Forum User
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Great Lakes JeepThing's 6th annual Toys for Tots
Dec 12th 2004
Start time 10:00am (be there early!)
Downtown Chicago
Start point McCormick place parking lot "B" (truck marshalling area)
Contact Brandon Turner
E-mail [email protected]
Web site www.gljt.org
IMPORTANT: Entry fee is at least one BRAND NEW toy still in the original packaging! Please do not ask to participate if you are empty handed.
It's that time of year again in the Chicago area. Time to start the buzz of one of the biggest and most important 4x4 events of the year. GLJT's Toys for Tots parade. Last year in 2003 our little event officially exploded into something much bigger than just us. Now, this event has grown into something that belongs to the 4x4 community as a whole. With 175 vehicles, over 300 people, and 15 different club represented. Funny to think that just 6 years ago the first parade included nothing but GLJT members, and totaled to about 15 jeeps. Now this event has multiplied several times over in attendance, has been covered on local TV networks, newspapers, and escorted by Chicago police.
This year (and maybe every other year) we will be starting in McCormick Place parking lot "B'. Located off the 31st street exit from Lake Shore Drive. (more detailed directions to come) The parade will leave at 10:00am SHARP! So please get there early enough to have time to get those Christmas decorations on your vehicle. Did I forget to mention decorations? The parade is never complete without them. Some participants have really gone all out for this event. Decorating thier jeeps like Santa's sleigh, or leaving no piece of sheet metal on the Durango untouched.
That leads up to the other thing that participants are highly encouraged to do. While the entry fee is at least one toy, please try to bring more than just one. Participants always come with vehicles full to the top with donations from friends, family, and co-workers. Posters are available at GLJT meetings for making your own 'drop box'.
Once attendees get there and are ready to leave at 10 we head north on Lake Shore Drive to Foster Ave. Exit on Foster, and take Foster West to the U.S. Marine headquarters for toy drop off. Be sure to have your CB radio on during the drive. We'll be on channel 4. If you've never seen 200 decorated 4x4's being escorted down LSD by Chicago police ... you just have to be there. It's a breathtaking site, especially when one considers the cause that this is for. after the parade is the annual GLJT Christmas party. (those details are still to come). There will be plenty of food and drinks to go around. We inviteanyone that attends the parade to come to the party afterwards. It's our way of saying 'thanks', and we might get to meet some new people. Who knows, you might drive home with the set of four 33" Firestone Destination MT's that are being raffled off!
If for some reason anyone is unfamiliar... the Toys for Tots foundation is run by the US Marine corps. It was put into place to help raise toys as christmas presents for needy children. I think there are a lot of people here that have it better than most, it's important to remember that, and not take it for granted. Every child deserves at least one new prsent for christmas. With your help we can make that happen. If you come out and ride with us, you will make a difference.
Now help me spread the word for this. Tell everyone you know with a four wheel drive vehicle! Any questions can be answered here, or at www.gljt.org
Dec 12th 2004
Start time 10:00am (be there early!)
Downtown Chicago
Start point McCormick place parking lot "B" (truck marshalling area)
Contact Brandon Turner
E-mail [email protected]
Web site www.gljt.org
IMPORTANT: Entry fee is at least one BRAND NEW toy still in the original packaging! Please do not ask to participate if you are empty handed.
It's that time of year again in the Chicago area. Time to start the buzz of one of the biggest and most important 4x4 events of the year. GLJT's Toys for Tots parade. Last year in 2003 our little event officially exploded into something much bigger than just us. Now, this event has grown into something that belongs to the 4x4 community as a whole. With 175 vehicles, over 300 people, and 15 different club represented. Funny to think that just 6 years ago the first parade included nothing but GLJT members, and totaled to about 15 jeeps. Now this event has multiplied several times over in attendance, has been covered on local TV networks, newspapers, and escorted by Chicago police.
This year (and maybe every other year) we will be starting in McCormick Place parking lot "B'. Located off the 31st street exit from Lake Shore Drive. (more detailed directions to come) The parade will leave at 10:00am SHARP! So please get there early enough to have time to get those Christmas decorations on your vehicle. Did I forget to mention decorations? The parade is never complete without them. Some participants have really gone all out for this event. Decorating thier jeeps like Santa's sleigh, or leaving no piece of sheet metal on the Durango untouched.
That leads up to the other thing that participants are highly encouraged to do. While the entry fee is at least one toy, please try to bring more than just one. Participants always come with vehicles full to the top with donations from friends, family, and co-workers. Posters are available at GLJT meetings for making your own 'drop box'.
Once attendees get there and are ready to leave at 10 we head north on Lake Shore Drive to Foster Ave. Exit on Foster, and take Foster West to the U.S. Marine headquarters for toy drop off. Be sure to have your CB radio on during the drive. We'll be on channel 4. If you've never seen 200 decorated 4x4's being escorted down LSD by Chicago police ... you just have to be there. It's a breathtaking site, especially when one considers the cause that this is for. after the parade is the annual GLJT Christmas party. (those details are still to come). There will be plenty of food and drinks to go around. We inviteanyone that attends the parade to come to the party afterwards. It's our way of saying 'thanks', and we might get to meet some new people. Who knows, you might drive home with the set of four 33" Firestone Destination MT's that are being raffled off!
If for some reason anyone is unfamiliar... the Toys for Tots foundation is run by the US Marine corps. It was put into place to help raise toys as christmas presents for needy children. I think there are a lot of people here that have it better than most, it's important to remember that, and not take it for granted. Every child deserves at least one new prsent for christmas. With your help we can make that happen. If you come out and ride with us, you will make a difference.
Now help me spread the word for this. Tell everyone you know with a four wheel drive vehicle! Any questions can be answered here, or at www.gljt.org
group show up and do the parade in a group, rather than stuck here and there among all the others.
