A Kent Fire Department tradition that has been helping families for years could now use some help itself.
The clock is slowly ticking toward Christmas, and the Kent Toys for Joy Program is slowly plodding along.
Donations to this family-friendly program are down – and considerably.
“We’re at one-third of what we are normally, and we are halfway there,” said firefighter Justin Schauer, coordinator for this year’s program.
Blame an ongoing bad economy, or perhaps donation exhaustion – whatever the cause, this worthwhile program is just not seeing the particiaption it has in past years.
That’s why I’d like to challenge each of you to find just a few extra dollars in your wallet, to purchase a stuffed animal, or other toy for this program. The gifts will go straight to children in our area, in the Kent School District.
It’s so simple to participate: all you need to do is purchase a new, unwrapped toy and bring it to any Kent Fire Station (located in Kent and Covington) and our firefighters and volunteers will do the rest.
Along with a small army of volunteers, they’ll sort, wrap and deliver most of the toys to the Kent Food Bank, for distribution to local families. In addition to toys, the firefighters also are collecting non-perishable food items for the food banks.
You can even go one step further than purchasing a toy. On Monday, you can join firefighters and volunteers in the Toys for Joy gift-wrapping party, scheduled for 6 p.m. at Kent Fire Station 75 (15635 SE 272nd Street.)
Our families can use your help.
To learn more, call the Toys for Joy hotline at 253-856-4485.
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