Trail riders to distribute Christmas toys

HARLINGEN - There will be a Christmas in Sebastian this year, regardless of the hard economic times.

The 9th annual T&T Riders trail ride to deliver toys and candy to underprivileged children in Sebastian will take place Saturday, Juan Tovar, event organizer and owner of T&T Construction, said.

The ride will start at 10 a.m. at Harlingen Storage and Mini Warehouse at 3102 N. Business 77, continue through Combes and arrive at the Sebastian baseball park about 3 p.m.

Toys and candy will be distributed to children about 4 p.m.

About 60 people have already signed up to participate in the trail ride, Tovar said, and the public is invited to participate as well, on horseback or by following in a vehicle.

All the toys and candy have been donated by Tovar and the riders.

"No matter how bad it is right now, there is going to be a Christmas in Sebastian," Tovar said. "Sebastian is a small community but there are a lot of children there and they are good, grateful people."

Last year the riders distributed about 250 toys, Tovar said.

Any toys left over this year will be donated to the Sebastian Fire Department for future distribution, Tovar added.

Riders are also invited to attend a cookout tonight at Harlingen Storage and Mini Warehouse to celebrate the trail ride.