Decked out in all sorts of vibrant, festive flair, hundreds of Chicagoland Jeeps took to the streets as a part of the annual charity Toys for Tots Run on Dec. 1, held by local organization Jeeps on the Run.
The Jeeps on the Run organization and the Toys for Tots Run are products of North chemistry teacher April Missak and her husband Mike Missak’s fondness for Jeeps. Longtime Jeep fanatics, they started the organization after noticing the lack of Jeep showcases in the Chicagoland area.
“When my kids were really little, we brought them to a car show, and they [said], ‘We don’t want to see cars, we want to see Jeeps.’ So my husband was like, ‘Well, we could probably make that happen.’ So he tried to get a couple of Jeeps together, do a little Jeep parade and go to a couple different stops. And then it was around Christmas, so we [thought], ‘Oh, we should have everybody bring a toy for Toys for Tots,’” said April Missak.
From there, the organization and its annual Toys for Tots event grew exponentially. This year, over 400 Jeeps from the Chicagoland area participated in the convoy from the Ray Chrysler Jeep Dodge Ram Dealership and ended at the Marriott Lincolnshire Resort.
“Everybody decorates their Jeeps and loads them with toys to donate. The Marines then meet us at the Marriott, and we have semi trucks set up, and everybody kind of drives in with their Jeep, so it’s like a big Jeep parade, and then we unload toys. We were able to fill two semi trailers worth of toys that day,” said April Missak.
Afterwards, participants gathered at the Marriott afterparty for food, entertainment and a raffle for a brand new 2024 Jeep Wrangler supplied by the dealership. Alongside the toys, the proceeds from the raffle and ticket fees were donated to Toys for Tots.
Jeeps on the Run has been holding the Toys for Tots Run for 12 years, donating over 145,000 toys and over $1.9 million. While their Toys for Tots collaboration is their largest, the organization also hosts other charity events.
“We’ll do smaller things, like food pantry events and breast cancer runs,” said April Missak. “But this is our really big event.”
The camaraderie around the Jeep community is unique. They are known for their fun displays of fraternity, like the “Jeep Wave” or their practice of leaving rubber ducks on fellow Jeeps. This culture, April Missak believes, is a part of why the event is so successful.
“It definitely is this community of people, and I could totally see how that really aids there being a lot of turnout and being a lot having a lot of people be interested in it,” said April Missak.
After another successful year, April Missak reflects on the impact that Jeeps on the Run has made and the importance of their work with Toys for Tots.
“[The Toys for Tots Run] is super cool. It restores your faith in humanity, to be honest. I always walk away from that event that weekend being like, ‘I cannot believe how kind and generous people are,’” said April Missak. “To me that is the best part of it. I really feel like that kicks off my Christmas season, and it makes me in the Christmas mood because you see how awesome and kind and generous people are when everybody comes together for a cause.”
