Oswego Fire District Collects Over 3,000 Toys for Local Children

There is nothing quite like seeing the community come together for the annual toys for tots drive.

Which is why I think it's one of my favorite events of the year to cover.

The Oswego Fire Protection District teams up with Oswego's five junior high schools to collect as many toys as they can for the Oswegoland Optimist Club's "Needy Family Project," which benefits local families who could use some help.

To inspire the kids, 10 students from each school are selected to be "elves" for the day and help load up the fire trucks and ambulances with gifts collected at their schools, organize the toys at the fire station and are then treated to a breakfast cooked by volunteer firefighters.

I rode along in an ambulance this year with Capt. John Cornish, who heads up the toy drive for the OFPD every year. We drove to Thompson Junior High, which was rumored to be the school with the most toys this year - a huge difference as Capt. Cornish informed me that they normally come in last.

The students this year had everything pre-boxed and ready to go, so it was quick work running them out to the armored humvee that the Marine Corps provided, along with four Devil Dogs to help with the drive. 

Toys for Tots, Capt. Cornish explained to me, is done in conjunction with the Marine Corps. "This is the first time they've been able to come out. We're very excited they're able to join us."

After the toys were loaded up into the truck, we all headed back to Fire Station One to sort the toys. Blue mats for boys, brown for girls and any toy that could go either way was thrown into either pile. 

The first wave of "elves" hailed from Murphy, Thompson and Traughber, and they all collected numerous toys to sort. By the time they were finished the mats were almost overflowing with toys. 

The students were all smiles as they laughed and looked at the toys, some commenting that "This was my favorite game when I was little!" to "I asked for that for Christmas!" Everyone was so eager to help, shuttling toys back and forth, cleaning up the empty boxes and bags, and I was so happy to be able to witness and be a part of it. 

After the toys were sorted the students and their families were invited to eat a breakfast cooked up by volunteer firefighters, where the traveling trophy for the most toy collection would be handed out.

This year the toy drive collected 3,176, which will increase as more donations come in. Thompson Junior High won the trophy this year with a collection of  1,339 toys! Last year's winner was Plank with 655 toys. 

Each member of the OFPD also donated money to purchase 13 bicycles and other members donated bikes themselves, amongst a collection of other toys and donations from the community.

It is amazing to continue to see the generosity of the Oswego community. Thank you to all who were able to help, donate and contribute to making Toys for Tots a success and for helping out families in need. 

May you all have a wonderful Christmas and holiday season.