About Us
What is Hands to Heart?
Hands to Heart ‘Toys for Disadvantaged Children’ was established in 1994 by Michael Bergen. It is a non for profit and volunteer organization that delivers toys to low income families throughout Kansas, Missouri, Nebraska, South Dakota, etc.
In order to collect toys for Hands to Heart, Michael also founded the Michael Bergen’s Night Train Run in 1997 as he hosts two runs each and every year, one in the Spring and one in the Fall. Instead of charging a registration fee Mike asks that you bring as many toys as your hawg will haul! All monetary donations are used to purchase more toys. Toys are then distributed to children in need all through out the year. Most of these families have suffered natural disasters such as flooding and tornadoes, house fires, domestic violence, and to the parents who have lost their jobs due to the economy or just going through hard times etc.
Obviously, the Christmas Holiday Season is always our busiest time of the year. Michael’s first Christmas Season he hand delivered toys to about 50 children, and as of this current year, Michael and his group of volunteers were able to reach and hand deliver toys to over 12,000 children just during the holiday season as the need is growing for countless children each and every year. Michael delivers toys to countless Head Start programs, elementary schools in lower income neighborhoods, woman’s shelters, foster homes, etc. He also helps other organizations such as Catholic Charities, The Red Cross, The Don Bosco Center, Children’s Mercy Hospital and K.U. as well Nursing Homes as he believes in taking care of our elders.
He and his group also enjoy delivering toys to The Native American Reservations in Kansas, Nebraska and South Dakota such as Kickapoo, Sac & Fox, Ponca,and Santee, Rosebud, Pine Ridge, Omaha Winnebago, Yankton Sioux etc. Michael came up with a motto he firmly believes in! ” If we do not hand to the hearts of our children then who will mend the hearts of us when we are old”.
With everything Michael has accomplished through the years, he says it would not have been possible without family, friends, volunteers, riders and sponsors, because of your hearts you have brought smiles to countless children!
May The Great Spirit Bless You All Forever!!