Santa’s helpers

This past December, several of OOIDA’s employees moonlighted as Santa’s helpers.

The Owner-Operator Independent Drivers Association teamed up with Elite Comics to deliver thousands of dollars’ worth of toys to Children’s Mercy Hospital in Kansas City.

Shoppers who visited the Target in Mission, Kan., on Dec. 19, may have been surprised to see OOIDA’s tour truck, the Spirit of the American Trucker … and Chewbacca. Based in the Kansas City area, comic book store Elite Comics gathered volunteers to dress as superheroes to do some holiday shopping.

This is an event that Elite Comics owner William Binderup has been doing for 11 years now. Binderup collects money throughout the year. Raffles, exclusive books/covers and celebrity appearances in the store are among the ways he collects funds. In business for 29 years, Binderup raises $1,000 for each year in business. This year, he surpassed that mark by raising more than $30,000 for the toy drive.

In true comic book fashion, Binderup gathers up volunteers to dress as superheroes to do the shopping. This year, there were sightings of Superwoman, Wolverine and some “Star Wars” characters, including Chewbacca.

Over the past 11 years, Elite Comics has raised more than $200,000 for Children’s Mercy Hospital’s Snowflake Shoppe.

The Snowflake Shoppe at Children’s Mercy Hospital Kansas City allows parents and caregivers to select gifts for children in the hospital, and their family members, at no cost, all without leaving the building. The donations come from community groups and corporate partners, past patients and even pro athletes.

All of those toys have to get to Children’s Mercy Hospital somehow. This is where OOIDA steps in.

Marty Ellis, driver of OOIDA’s tour truck, arrived at the Target with an empty trailer. One by one, superheroes and other volunteers loaded up the trailer with bags of toys. Ellis would take those toys to Children’s Mercy Hospital to be included in its Snowflake Shoppe.

It was a tight fit for the truck, but with the help of OOIDA Executive Vice President Lewie Pugh and others, The Spirit dropped off the toys for the sick children and their families during the holidays.

“It is something that helps the kids,” Pugh said. “What better thing to do at Christmas than help make a child smile – especially kids who are in the hospital at the holiday time? What better way to help highlight truckers as well? We all know truckers drive the real sleighs, and we are glad to help get that final mile delivery to the children’s hospital.”

OOIDA also served as Santa’s helpers for the toy drive in 2021.

“I think every driver out there would benefit from just getting involved, whether it’s your local church or local fundraiser of some sort, because it really does make you more part of the community,” Ellis said. “That’s why I enjoy getting involved in things like this. I just kind of feel honored that we were able to be just a small part of it.” LL