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Hundreds of toys destined for Santa’s sack were delivered to Love Soup Hibiscus Coast’s warehouse by members of the Hells Angels Nomads motorcycle club last weekend.
Toys donated by the community and by the Hells Angels Nomads themselves were collected from Wade Hotel in Silverdale on December 12 and packed into two hot rods. They were then driven in a convoy of around 40 Hells Angels Nomads on motorcycles down to the Redvale warehouse.
Everyone who donated toys was invited to join the ride. Santa will give out the toys at Love Soup’s free community Christmas meal on December 20.
This is the first year that the food rescue charity has received the support of the Hells Angels Nomads, who moved into a pad in Silverdale earlier this year (HM June 17).
Love Soup director Julie King described the day as “spectacular, with good vibes” and says the charity is looking forward to doing it again next year.
There was a strong Police presence in the vicinity of the Wade Hotel on the day, including a roadblock on Tavern Road.
Area Commander Waitemata North, Inspector Mark Fergus, says patched motorcycle gang members riding in large groups causes concern for the public, regardless of the activity involved. He says Police also have a responsibility to ensure that participants of these rides have safe bikes and demonstrate safe road behaviour.
“Police monitored driving behaviour and conducted a number of vehicle and speed safety checks,” Inspector Fergus says. “A total of 53 infringement notices were issued for driving related offences. The bikes that were road legal with appropriately licenced riders then continued their ride. No significant issues were identified.”
