Tow Trucks for Tots

Maryville was the recipient of a large donation of toys before Christmas, courtesy of our friends at Tow Trucks for Tots. They also underwrote the food for our all-program Christmas Banquet in Des Plaines. We couldn’t have been more grateful! So, imagine our surprise on January 4 when we received six large boxes of sporting goods, athletic attire and other kid-friendly gear donated by The Sports Authority and delivered to us by the guys at Tow Trucks for Tots!

Tow Trucks for Tots has designated Maryville as its go-to charity for this donation. (They know how much our kids love sports!) Among the boxes we found brand-new, wish-list items such as backpacks and golf clubs as well as everyday necessities like coats, jerseys, sweatpants, shoes and socks. We’re talking cool merchandise from top-notch vendors like Nike, Adidas, TheNorthFace, Under Armour… the list goes on and on!

Aside from sharing this news with our readers, we wanted to present a little background on this great philanthropic organization. Worldwide Equipment Sales, LLC’s “Tow Trucks for Tots” is a non-profit group made up of members of the towing community, its suppliers and the wonderful volunteers who raise toys for children during the holiday season.

Tow Trucks For Tots has three main goals: To bring a much-needed toy to a very deserving boy or girl; to further enhance the image of the towing industry; and to break the “Guinness Book of World Records” for the largest tow truck parade.

With those goals in mind, it should come as no surprise that Worldwide Equipment Sales, LLC’s Tow Trucks For Tots does currently hold the “Guinness Book of World Records” for the largest tow truck parade. Every 2nd Sunday in November, towing companies throughout the Midwest converge on Rockdale, Illlinois, (Hollywood Casino) and line up for the world’s largest tow truck parade.

The parade route is 42 miles long.  It travels from Rockdale, Illinois, to Toyota Park in Bridgeview, Illinois.  At Toyota Park, towing companies unload their collected toys into semi trucks to be distributed to children in need. Also at Toyota Park, the tow truck driver is given a free Tow Trucks For Tots T-Shirt, all are treated to lunch, live band and the camaraderie of their fellow towers.

While Christmas may be a warm and fuzzy memory for us, the folks at Tow Trucks for Tots are already preparing to do their St. Nick routine in 2016. During the months before the parade, towers are encouraged to collect toys for children ages 0-18 years old.  They do this by putting drop boxes at their places of businesses.  Some even have large parties and fundraisers to collect toys.  Details about the toy drive are posted on their website: www.towtrucksfortots.com  (All toy donations must be NEW and UNWRAPPED.  Please NO GUNS, SWORDS, or STUFFED ANIMALS.)

Please join us in saluting our good friends at The Sports Authority and Tow Trucks for Tots!