The sponsoring organizations of last month?s Marion County Toy Run presented checks totaling $12,700 to representatives from four community charitable organizations Saturday at Hillsboro State Bank. The proceeds of the event, which will be used to buy Christmas presents for children from homes with significant financial needs, were divided in proportion to the number of free and subsidized lunches provided within the represented school districts. Pictured above are (from left): Rodger Charles, Arlen Busenitz and Mary Busenitz, representing the Peabody Association of Churches; Mike Hiebert, representing the Goessel Ministerial Alliance; Kim Abrahams, representing the Route 56 Classic Car Club, one of the Toy Run sponsors; Mike Sechler, representing Abate District No. 9 of Kansas, a Toy Run sponsor; Angela Lange, representing Marion Community Christmas (with funds going to the Marion-Florence and Centre school districts); Ron Funk, representing Sons of the American Post 366, a Toy Run sponsor; and Gaylord Goertzen, representing the Hillsboro Area Ministerial Alliance. In addition to the checks, proceeds included the purchase of 30 new bicycles and several large plastic sacks filled with toys. The money raised in the 15th year of the Marion County Toy Run set another record, according to Ken Johnson, one of the event organizers. Since the first Toy Run, more than $88,400 has been raised and distributed for Marion County children.
