Warm fuzzies after bus toy run

Charlie and Toby Childs with Hits promottion team member Brittney Miles on the bus at the end of the toy run. Photo/Ruth Keber

Toy donations filled an entire bus after The Hits Toy Run yesterday.

Stuffed animals, Barbies, action figures and games filled every seat on a Bay Hopper bus after it stopped at shopping centres around the city to collect both used and new donations.

The toys would go a long way to make sure every Tauranga family had presents to unwrap for Christmas.

""It makes you get a little warm and fuzzy seeing it all," Molly Stiven, brand engagement coordinator for NZME radio, said.

"It's unreal that people go out of their way to be so kind and help others like this."

The bus stopped at Phoenix Car Park, Owens Place, Papamoa Plaza, Palmer's Garden Centre in Welcome Bay, Tauriko Crossing, Bethlehem Shopping centre, Fraser Cove, Red Square and the regional council offices.

The toys were delivered to St Vincent de Paul which would distribute them to those most in need.

The weeks of organising the toy run had paid off, she said, and St Vincent de Paul would be spoilt for choice.

Brittney Miles, from the NZME promo team, was on the bus the whole day.

"I'm blown away. The first lady of the day in Mount Maunganui brought four bags of toys to us. The generosity from just one person is amazing."

It was an absolute success and the variety of toys was huge, she said.

Toys were tumbling from every bus seat and the back was packed out.

Bayhopper bus driver Dave Jamieson said he had a great time.

"It's really awesome how many people in our community think of their fellow neighbours."

Each place the bus visited was generous, and those who were not aware the toy run was on said they would drop something off at the Bay of Plenty Times office on Cameron Rd, where The Hits was based.

"This elderly woman dropped off this old wooden block set. People gave hand-made toys. It was all pretty special," Mr Jamieson said.

When they arrived to the regional council offices Mr Jamieson said he thought they had a lot.

"Then they just kept coming with more and more toys."

The Hits Toy Run
- Collected toys from shopping centres in Tauranga from 9am-4.30pm
- St Vincent de Paul would distribute the toys to charities and those in need
- Sponsored by The Hits, Bay of Plenty Regional Council, Go Bus and Marathon Visual Media