LITTLE ROCK, Ark. — Toy Hill is a special event that strives to bring joy to Arkansas children each year as they collect thousands of gifts to benefit the Toys for Tots campaign.
The event is now coined as the "Bob Robbins Memorial Toy Hill Weekend"-- in memory of the legendary Arkansas radio personality.
75 years ago, the marine corps started the Toys for Tots campaign.
This year would have been Bob Robbins’ 51st year being the force behind Toy Hill in Central Arkansas.
War Memorial Stadium is the location once again as Toy Hill returns to where it all began.
“We're honored to say we're back at the original Toy Hill this year,” Drew Allen with Toy Hill said.
Another year of collecting toys brings about the same goal.
“Our purpose is to give kids that go without Christmas a Christmas and Christmas presents,” Allen said.
Toy Hill is one of the largest events of its kind and it's one that Drew Allen said Arkansans hold a special piece of.
“Many of us grew up either riding in or watching as kids and now we take our kids, or they take their kids to watch it,” Allen said.
The impact of Toy Hill is evident and can be seen in the numbers. In 2022, 17,000 kids received a toy, this year that number is even higher.
“23,000 kids will be served,” Rodney Roberts, owner of Rodney Cycle House said. “It's a big deal for a kid to wake up on Christmas morning with a toy.”
Rodney Roberts, owner of Rodney’s Cycle House, has been a key part of Toy Hill for nearly four decades.
“39 years ago, there were a few motorcycle guys who wondered why we weren’t doing this toy thing, and then we hooked up with Bob,” Roberts said “It went gangbusters from there.”
For Rodney, it’s always been about giving gifts. Each year, without fail, his heart is touched.
“Every year, I’ll talk to somebody that said they were one of those kids, it’s pretty heartfelt,” Roberts said. “That's why we do it, it's big, it's fun, and the kids get toys. That's just a major deal.”
In 39 years, Rodney has plenty of great memories, but some stand out from the rest.
“Bob said we've never canceled Toy Hill, we're not doing it and I said, 'well, you're going to be there by yourself, Bob,'” Roberts said.
Roberts said this story shows the dedication behind Toy Hill.
“Bob managed to get everything shuffled around and it's never been canceled, it's only been postponed for a week,” Roberts said.
Allen and Roberts couldn't talk about the impact of Toy Hill without mentioning Bob Robbins
“Bob got involved with the campaign 51 years ago and his thing was that no child shall go without a toy for Christmas,” Allen said.
Roberts said Robbins was a special person to know.
“He just poured his soul in it,” Roberts said. “He was a really wonderful person; I can't say enough.”
Toy Hill is always the first weekend of December and as it's back home this year something seems a little sweeter.
“It's kind of stepping back in time, because it's coming back to where it started,” Allen said.
Roberts is eager to be with the people again.
“The people that we get to work with and the people that join us in the events, their generosity is just amazing,” Roberts said.