Starting now through December 15, the Chelsea Fire Department (CFD) is accepting new, unwrapped, non-violent toys at its Central Station, located at 307 Chestnut St.
The station welcomes toy donations between 8 a.m. and 8 p.m. daily.
During the previous year, the CFD gathered three large pickup trucks full of toys for the Toys for Tots initiative. Research conducted by CFD organizers revealed that the Toys for Tots/Globe Santa program serves 750 families comprising more than 1,300 children throughout Chelsea.
The number of families served has nearly doubled since the CFD first launched their collection drive, according to Phil Rogers, who noted that “This program is a great opportunity for all of us to help bring a little happiness into the hearts of so many local families that have so little,”.
Families in need should be aware that November 20 marks the deadline for toy requests. Those seeking assistance should reach out to their social worker, pastor, local city or town hall, or The Globe Santa. The cutoff for toy requests in 2017 is November 20 at Midnight due to the volume of requests received.
Families can submit requests through Globe Santa at https://globesanta.org/aboutreq.aspx#request or by contacting the Department of Transitional Services at (877) 382-2363.
Toys for Tots was established in 1947 when Major Bill Hendricks, USMCR founded the program in Los Angeles, collecting approximately 5,000 toys before Christmas that year.
The U.S. Marine Corps Toys for Tots Program aims to gather new, non-violent, unwrapped toys annually and distribute them as Christmas gifts to needy children in the Greater Boston area. The program seeks to ensure that less fortunate families throughout Greater Boston and Massachusetts know their children will receive care during the holidays. Rogers emphasized that “On behalf of all the children made happy and the members of the Chelsea Fire Department, thank you so very much for all of your help,”.