For only $10 or a new, unwrapped toy, you can enjoy a night of live music and entertainment, as the Oakland County Sportsmen’s Club hosts its eighth annual ‘Toys for Tots? Benefit, Sunday, Dec. 2, 2-9 p.m.
‘It keeps getting bigger and better each year, but the demand is also bigger, especially this year,? said Salli Peherbridge, office manager of OCSC, 4770 Waterford Road in Independence Township.
Each year a couple Marines will be at the club to help sort and carry toys.
‘Year’s past, we bring everything in here (the office) at the end of the night and in this office, you can’t move,? said Petherbridge. ‘I just love seeing the variety of toys and the people that bring them in.?
While Petherbridge enjoys seeing the toys, Dan Stiff of OCSC enjoys lining up and taking care of all the bands, as well as ‘watching Salli chase around all those hot Marines,? he said with a laugh.
This year’s bands include Phil Treais Group, Charlie Allen Martin, Urban Nomads, Motor City Women & the Express, Skee Brothers, Donde, and Mule Train. Emcee for the evening will be John O’Leary of 94.7 WCSX.
‘It will range anywhere between country music to rock-n-roll,? Stiff of OCSC.
All the bands are ‘working bands,? and three or four are currently recording, he said.
‘All the bands donate their time,? he said. ‘I think they enjoy it as much as those who attend do.?
‘I am really anxious to hear the Motor City Women; they cover all types of music. They do hip-hop, folk, rock-n-roll, and country,? said Petherbridge. ‘They represent every kind of music that there is.?
The OCSC already owns most of the equipment, the sound system, and amplifiers.
‘So the musicians just bring their chords and their instruments, plug in and start playing,? said Stiff.
Two stages will be set up for the bands. The Skee brothers supply their drum set and Jim Hamblin brings the second stage’s PA system.
Hamblin, who used to be the road manager for the Detroit rock-n-roll band The Rockets and currently plays with the Urban Nomads, said he enjoys the Toys for Tots benefit each year.
‘I just really look forward to it ? it’s just a gathering of all the musician friends. It’s gotten to the point where I know all the bands and all the guys in the bands,? he said. ‘It’s almost gotten to be like a family reunion when we come up there and do that once a year. It’s really, really neat.?
Hamblin also said Dan Keylon, who used to play bass for the Rockets, was coming up that weekend and would be joining him that Sunday for Toys for Tots.
‘I haven’t seen him in 25 years, so I am really looking forward to that.?
Stiff said the OCSC started doing Toys for Tots because it was a good community service.
‘We wanted to shine a positive light on this place and also do a great thing at the same time,? said Petherbridge. ‘It’s just a real nice thing to do for other people, especially children.?
Each year, OCSC is awarded a certificate from Toys for Tots, as well as invited to the Toys for Tots Appreciation Banquet. In 2004, the OCSC donated $549.
‘The demand is bigger this year, so many people need help. If you can spare a few bucks, come out and have a good time and it all goes for a good cause,? said Petherbridge.
For more information, call the Oakland County Sportsmen Club at 248-623-0444.
Toys for Tots are available to low-income families with children up to 12 years old, or older children with disabilities. Applications are available at the Toys for Tots distribution center, 1999 Centerpoint Parkway in Pontiac, 9 a.m.- 4:30 p.m., Nov. 28-30 and Dec. 3-7.