By Katie Visconti

By Katie Visconti

Las Vegas Sun

Dec. 11, 2014

By Katie Visconti

Thursday, Dec. 11, 2014 | 2 a.m.

More than 500 bikes made their way into semitrailers along with several thousand toys, ranging from "Frozen" dolls to coloring books to Hot Wheels.

While the image may seem like a child's imagination at play, 300 Las Vegas nightclub workers ensured that the dreams of many underprivileged Southern Nevada children would become a reality this holiday season.

For seven years now, employees of XS in the Encore and Tryst in the Wynn have contributed to the Chet Buchanan and the Morning Zoo Toy Drive. The team met at the Wal-Mart at 3500 W. Charleston Blvd. on Wednesday morning to purchase presents for the KLUC event.

All year, the workers collect donations, via tips and personal contributions, and when December rolls around, they make their way to Wal-Mart for the shopping spree. This year’s total donation was $195,468, averaging a little more than $650 donated by each worker.

As they arrived at Wal-Mart, the eager shoppers nearly cleared out toy aisles, purchasing gifts for more than 3,000 local families.

Wal-Mart preps 50 of their employees and sets apart six registers for the event. For Wal-Mart and the nightclub workers, the event is a win-Wynn. Tegan Reese, Wal-Mart assistant manager, says she does one day’s business in two hours.

Purchased toys are loaded into semitrailers that are driven to the toy drive headquarters at NV Energy. Officials had only anticipated using six trucks, but 12 were needed to carry all the toys. After delivery, the toys make their way to offices of HELP of Southern Nevada, which sets up a toy store where families can choose items of interest. Parents can expect to leave with 2-3 toys, a stocking stuffer for each child, a family toy, and a bike.

“What’s amazing about XS and Tryst is that they start (donating) again the day after they deliver,” says HELP Chief Operations Officer Fuilala Riley.

The nightclub employees have come a long way in their charitable zeal.

John Wood, senior executive director of VIP Services of XS and Tryst, shares that seven years ago, employees raised $3,000, less than 2 percent of their total donations this year.

"We started as just a small group of people wanting to give back," he says. “(It’s a great feeling) to know that you are going to give a toy to a kid who wouldn’t usually receive one on Christmas.”

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