Kyuki-Do Celebrates Season With Toy Drive, Breakfast and Santa

Rick Bjorkquist’s holiday wish list has 400 toys on it.

It doesn’t matter what size, color or type of toy, either. Any new toy will do.

Bjorkquist may have gotten his wish Saturday as he hosted a Breakfast with Santa event for his patrons along with a toy collection drive at his Huntley business: Kyuki-Do Martial Arts, 10993 Ruth Road.

“Last year, we collected 365 toys, and this year our goal is 400,” Bjorkquist said. “I haven’t counted them all, yet, but I think we’re doing pretty well so far.”

Bjorkquist, along with his wife, Christine, both of Algonquin, opened the Huntley martial arts studio in March 2007.

Their Breakfast with Santa program started five years ago as a fun way to gather students and family members to celebrate the holidays. The Bjorkquists supply the breakfast, crafts, activities and invite Santa Claus, as well.

The attendees are asked to bring a toy donation, benefiting Toys for Tots of McHenry County.

“Every year this gets a little bigger and a little better,” said Rick Bjorkquist, known as “Master B.” to the students.

The studio on Saturday morning was packed full of students – both adults and children. The kids were having fun eating, running around and visiting with Santa Claus. One little 3-year-old boy couldn’t stop staring at the toy table.

“One of the reasons we come here is because they do so much for the community,” said Kristen Kan, of Huntley, enjoying breakfast with her son, Dylan, 5, and daughter, Ava, 3, both students at Kyuki-Do.

“It’s very family-oriented here, and, of course, I like my children to take the classes because it teaches them self-esteem, discipline and gives them exercise.”

Lee Totman and Jerry Havens, retired servicemen representing the Marine Corps League of McHenry County No. 1009, also were on hand Saturday morning. Totman and Havens stepped up to help with Toys for Tots when the active marines, who normally coordinated the collection, were called away for duty.

The two attend Toys for Tots collection parties every couple of days this time of year. The toy collection parties are scheduled until Jan. 15, Totman said.

“We started collecting toys six weeks ago,” Totman said. “It’s a lot of fun.”

Toys for Tots has a list of 16 local service agencies that will receive the donations this year. Last year, the McHenry County marines collected a total of 38,000 toys, Totman said.

“Our goal is to try to give three toys to each child” in need, Totman said.