By Seth Daniel
Chelsea Firefighters will be collecting toys for the Toys for Tots and Globe Santa program once again this year, and based on their research, that generosity could land to a needy family in Chelsea.
“We did a little research into the Globe Santa and Toys for Tots and found out that more than 800 children had been helped in Chelsea and 400 families by those organizations,” said Firefighter Phil Rogers, who is leading the campaign with Firefighter Jimmy Ruiz.
The Fire Department will be accepting new, unwrapped toys at the Central Fire Station seven days a week from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. until Dec. 18.
Anyone in need of donations is urged to contact City Hall, their social worker, pastor or Globe Santa.
“Anything to help the kids,” said Ruiz. “We have to act fast and quick because it’s only going until Dec. 18 and that’s coming soon.”
Firefighters Jimmy Ruiz, Gabrel Ruiz, Mark Lee, Phil Rogers, Carlos Carrasquillo and Rony Gobin at Central Fire Station last week with the Toys for Tots drop-off box. They are gathering toys as a drop off location until Dec. 18.
So far, donations are trickling in, but firefighters are hoping to get some major donations before the deadline to turn over to the Marines, who conduct the annual toy drive. The Toys for Tots program is conducted by the U.S. Marines and has been in place since 1947.
In 2013, Toys for Tots gathered 16 million toys and donated them to 7 million needy children.