Bikers play Santa Claus

The parade of motorcycles rumbled into the parking lot of the York Day Nursery at about 1:25 p.m. Saturday.

Q'Niya Jacobs covered her ears. They were "a little bit" loud, she said.

Still, the 8-year-old third-grader from East York, said, "Cool."

The bikers, members of the Buffalo Soldiers Cavalry Scouts, the Untame Riders, the Outsiders and the Brothers/Sisters of the Sun motorcycle clubs, rolled in bearing gifts.

The toy drive, organized by the Buffalo Soldiers, is something the club does every year, albeit sometimes at different community centers or day cares.

This year, the club decided to adopt the day care center in the 400 block of East Philadelphia Street for its drive. The daughter of one of its members, Latasha Maxfield, works at the center. Last year, when the club conducted a drive for the Lehman Center, Maxfield said she asked her father, "How about us?"

The club had enough toys for about 75 kids, but it appeared that more than that had lined up at the center for the drive. Lance Burke, president of the Buffalo Soldiers, took up a collection and sent some of his members out to replenish the supply of toys.

"We don't want anybody to be slighted," he said.

The motorcycle club does such a run every year, after participating in runs conducted by other clubs. Burke said, "It's a way for the club to give back to the community."

And, he said, it's fun for members.

"You see the smiles on the kids faces," he said. "It's great."

Laverne Taylor, who brought her granddaughter to the center for the event, was talking to Ann Dickson-Jones, a member of the Untame Riders when she said, "This is great. Every little bit helps. We are truly blessed."

Dickson-Jones said, "This is what we do."