LA GRANDE — While Santa Claus usually spends Dec. 24 dropping off gifts, Christmas Eve arrived a little early this year for over 30 families in Eastern Oregon.

However, there was no Dasher, Dancer, Prancer, Vixen, Comet, Cupid, Donner or Blitzen in sight. Nor was Rudolph the red-nosed reindeer anywhere to be found.

Rather, Mr. and Mrs. Saint Nicholas were accompanied by the Tribe Nomad Motorcycle Club during the organization’s annual Christmas for Kids Toy Run.

“This is our biggest year,” Chaplain Dale Johnston said.

After loading two trailers with gifts and food boxes, the Tribe Nomads rolled through La Grande, Island City and Union on Saturday, Dec. 16, and Sunday, Dec. 17. Members of the club traveled from across Oregon, Idaho and Nevada to join up with the local members to take part in the toy run. Everyone was in good spirits in spite of the chilly weather.

The trailers headed up the delivery caravan, followed closely by motorcycles, cars and trucks of all sizes. At each stop along the toy run everyone unloaded to accompany Mr. and Mrs. Saint Nicholas up to the front door and as many people as possible poured into each house — filling the space with warmth and holiday cheer.

Kids greeted the crowd with a variety of reactions from bright smiles to shy hellos. Nearly everyone had hugs for Mr. and Mrs. Saint Nicholas.

Wrapped presents of all shapes and sizes filled up the space under the tree. Food boxes filled with complete holiday dinners — turkey, stuffing, potatoes, canned green beans, bread rolls and pie — were handed off to parents. A verse or two of a Christmas carol closed out each visit before the Tribe Nomads headed off to the next stop of the day.

It was unclear who was the most excited about the toy run — the children, the parents or the Tribe Nomads.

“This is what brings us together,” Senior Nomad Steve Fund said. “These kids are what’s important.”

This is the eighth year the Tribe Nomads organized a toy run in Eastern Oregon, Johnston said. It started out as a way to help a handful of families and has been growing ever since. This year the Tribe Nomads gave gifts to nearly 100 children.

Johnston said the club receives recommendations from counselors at Greenwood, Central and Island City elementary schools about children who would benefit from being a part of the toy run. Club members then talk with the families and find out what kinds of gifts each kid would enjoy.

The Tribe Nomads pride themselves on the fact that each child receives personalized gifts.

But the work starts long before the wish lists are finalized in November. The club hosts fundraisers throughout the year to raise money needed to purchase all the presents. They also receive donations and partner with local businesses.

“The club works all year to make this happen,” Johnston said.

A few weeks before the weekend of the toy run, the group hosts a wrapping party. This year, so many people showed up they had everything wrapped and ready to go within three hours.