Bus Jam Toy Distribution

The K-DOCK Rotary Bus Jam & Bikes for Tykes Toy and Food Drive is held the first Saturday in December with a distribution of toys the following week. However other projects that help stuff the busses with toys begin as early as October. The project was started almost 20 years ago by K-DOCK (KDCQ 92.9FM) Radio and the Coos Bay-North Bend Rotary Club. Through the years 8000 children have had a merrier Christmas because of the toy drive and thousands of families have received food through South Coast Food Share (distributed through Food Pantries in Coos County Communities & Southwestern Oregon Community College). The pandemic proved to be one of the most successful in the 19-year history of the project. Over 100-thousand pounds of food was collected in the form of food and cash donations, 6 busses were stuffed with toys in the cities of Coos Bay, North Bend, Bandon, and Coquille. This year, NARCOA Rail Cars (putters) conducted a Toy Express from Mapleton to Coos Bay to kick off donations. The Bus Jam Toy and Food Drive is the largest on the coast. It also features a toy run with over 100 motorcyclists delivering Bikes and toys at the Saturday collection event.

The following week, all the toys are distributed through a center that is operated by the Coos Bay-North Bend Rotary Club. It is unique in that the parents who register to have the opportunity to “Shop” for appropriate gifts for their children. The selection includes toys, stuffed animals, sporting goods, clothing and other items. Shoppers are paired with a Rotary Volunteer. They shop and receive stocking stuffers. It gives Rotarians an opportunity to know more about why it is important to do the work that we do in our community.