Motorcyclists deliver toys to local children
By Ethan Smith
Published in News on December 26, 2014 1:46 PM
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News-Argus/CASEY MOZINGO
Korbyn Mitchell, 7, hands a baby doll to a little girl at Green Acres Christmas Eve. Derek Mitchell, Korbyn's father, was the organizer of the event that provided toys to dozens of needy children.
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News-Argus/CASEY MOZINGO
Derek Mitchell, second from right, organizes members of the Carolina Heat and I Refuse Riderz Motorcycle Clubs along with several independent motorcycle enthusiasts behind Firestone on Berkeley Boulevard on Christmas Eve before their ride to deliver toys to children.
It was, of course, loud.
Nearly 20 motorcycles revving their engines on a narrow street means the sound of the engine will ricochet off the walls of surrounding buildings.
It was, of course, noticeable.
When two ride captains use their motorcycles to block off intersections throughout Goldsboro so riders have free passage, people take note.
But more than anything, it was a surprise -- a surprise that fulfilled a lifelong dream for Derek Mitchell and gave the children and families of the Green Acres housing project on Slocumb Street a Christmas they will never forget.
Nobody in Green Acres had any idea a group of strangers would deliver toys to them on Christmas Eve, and that is exactly how Mitchell meant for it to happen.
On Wednesday afternoon, Mitchell dressed as Santa and rode by motorcycle into Green Acres. His reindeer were two local motorcycle clubs -- The Carolina Heat and I Refuse Ryderz.
Heavy rains throughout the day threatened to make the ride a wet one, but the weather did not deter the motorcycle riders from bringing Christmas to Green Acres.
They came with a trailer full of hundreds of toys -- and the children rushed onto the street to claim their very own Christmas present.
"If Santa can deliver in the snow, we can deliver in the rain," said Mitchell, who organized the event.
When the motorcycles roared into the housing project, heads hesitantly popped out of doors to see what the commotion was about.
Parents gripped their children's hands and scouted out the situation.
Several people broke out cameras and began snapping photos.
And when the children realized Santa had come to town, excitement followed.
Gabriel Smith, 6, got a football. His brother, Zachariah, got a set of toy cars -- he wanted to know if Santa always rode a motorcycle.
Their mother, Tahilia James, had a smile plastered on her face as she kissed her children while they held their new toys.
"I grew up over on Ash Street," said Terry Morris, who goes by T Rock, and is not a part of either club, but simply wanted to ride and give back to the community. "It's very cool to be able to do this and to see the kids' reactions. It's a lot of fun."
Mitchell came up with the idea while living in San Antonio, Texas, decades ago, and reached out to the presidents of the Carolina Heat and I Refuse Ryderz to make his dream a reality.
He said he loves doing community service, but wanted to do something different.
"When I got to Goldsboro I didn't know if it would work here," he said. "But I called up the presidents of each club and said, 'Let's go take the bikes and ride down to the projects and show the bikes to the kids.' We got down there and started revving the engines and the kids came out and people started asking to take pictures, and that's when I knew it would work."
When the event was finished, the impact of what the clubs had accomplished by giving children a Christmas began to set in.
"It's an overwhelming sensation and it's an incredible thing to be able to give this to the community," Mitchell said. "I might shed a tear later. This is one of the very few times where I'm speechless."
Motorcycle clubs throughout Wayne and Wilson counties gathered the toys over the course of several weeks to pass them out Wednesday. They hosted events at clubs and bars throughout both counties and made the price of admission a toy, ensuring there would be more than enough to give to the children.
In fact, there were more than they could give away. Mitchell said the leftover toys would be donated to Cedar Grove Church in Princeton.
"I never went without," Mitchell said. "My parents blessed us. I can only imagine what some of these families have to go through, and I'll always help where I can help."
Tical Pal, a member of The Carolina Heat, works in human services, and said giving back to the community is second nature for him.
"I feel like it's my calling," he said. "As far as service goes, I'm so used to giving back with working in human services. I've worked with the handicapped and I'm so used to giving back, this club and what we do is a continuation of that."
Mitchell's wife, Candice, and his 7-year-old son, Korbyn, helped pass out the toys in Green Acres Wednesday afternoon. He said Korbyn kept him motivated in making his dream a reality.
"My son definitely kept me going because he got so involved," Mitchell said. "There was one night he was out in the trailer organizing the toys and it was 36 degrees. I went out there and told him to go inside because it was cold and he looked at me and said, 'No, Daddy. I want to help.'"