11/02/2011 6:02 PM
WOOD RIVER - Steve Kainz plans to drive the message about how important it is to give to those less fortunate during the holidays.
Kainz, owner of Trickey's Service Inc., will be taking part in the fourth annual "Tow Trucks For Tots" on Nov. 13 in Joliet and would like your help in collecting toys that are distributed to needy children.
"I think it's a great cause, and it gets towers in the community involved during the holiday season," Kainz said.
Kainz is collecting toys for toddlers and children up to age 18 that he can take with him on his trip. The event, which started in the Chicago area in 2008, supports Toys for Tots.
"We've set up barrels around town to collect toys," he said. "We have one at our shop, and there are some at Roxana High School, as well as the Roxana elementary schools. Lt. Will Cunningham with the Roxana Police Department assisted in setting up barrels at the schools."
He said other barrels are scattered throughout Wood River and surrounding communities.
Kainz said this year will be the first time he has participated in the event. Tow Trucks for Tots is a 42-mile convoy that will start at 9 a.m. at Hollywood Casino in Joliet and end at Toyota Park in Bridgeview.
Hundreds of towers from across the state take part in the event.
"There were 400 tow trucks that took part in the parade last year," Kainz said. "They anticipate more than 500 this year. I'm really looking forward to it."
Kainz said he is taking one of his semi-tow trucks on the 243-mile trip.
Last year, towers from across the state collected more than six truckloads of toys and more than $11,000 to assist needy families.
Kainz said he hopes to learn a lot more about the program when he goes to the event and hopes to bring it back to the Metro East.
"I would love to start something like this here," he said.
For more information about the program, visit www.towtrucksfortots.com or contact Trickey's at (618) 254-0404 for where you can drop off toys.
cellis@thetelegraph.com