Danbury Volunteer Firefighters collecting toys for kids in need!

Danbury, CT: The Danbury volunteer fire departments are collecting toys for children whose families are struggling this holiday season.

The toys will be collected every Friday night starting November 25th and running until December 16th. Volunteers firefighters and firetrucks will be outside of Toys 'R Us in Danbury as part of the "Stuff-A-Truck" event, now in it's third year.

Next month, on Saturday, December 17th at 10AM, the firefighters will hold a special party to deliver the toys to Family & Children's Aid who will give out the toys to children. The party will feature up to 10 firetrucks filled with toys, Santa, and Sparky, the fire department mascot. This will be held at the Family & Children's Aid Child Guidance Center located at 80 West Street in Danbury.

The community is encouraged to attend this special party to help cheer the firefighters, see Santa and enjoy refreshments donated by the Danbury Fair Chick-fil-A.

Mayor Mark Boughton is planning to attend and share in the thank you to the firefighters for their hard work.

"These groups of volunteer firefighters are just the best. They are definitely our heroes here!" said Allison Carballo, Director of Development for Family & Children's Aid. "We hope the community will also join us so we can thank them as well for their large part in making a difference during the holidays."

Carballo said last year more than 500 families in need benefited from the Danbury volunteer fire departments efforts.

The toys being collected for Family & Children's Aid are for children ages 0 to 18 years old. There is especially a need for toys for older children, ages 13 and up. Some of the most popular toy items are new sporting goods (especially soccer balls!), board games, puzzles and art supplies.

Last year after a very successful "Stuff-a-Truck" Chief Charlie Coakley said, in addition to Toys ‘R Us, who was “absolutely terrific,” a special shout out to Engine 4 Company’s Jen Hornik. “She spearheaded the whole thing and was outside collecting toys every Friday since right after Thanksgiving. She deserves a lot of credit for putting this together. We already put her on the spot for doing it next year!”

Well next year is here, and Jen Hornik has already put in a ton of hard work to make a difference in the lives of so many children and their families! A big thank you to Jen, all the participating Danbury volunteer fire departments, Toys 'R Us, Danbury Fair Chick-fil-A, and the community!

For more information please visit www.fcaweb.org or contact 203-205-2633 with questions.

About Family & Children’s Aid

Family & Children's Aid (FCA) provides high quality, innovative, behavioral and mental health care to children and their families. Our therapeutic techniques help children who have experienced trauma, abuse or neglect heal so they can choose their own futures rather than allowing their experiences and illnesses to dictate their futures for them. Family & Children's Aid is the largest children's outpatient mental health care non-profit in the state of Connecticut. Serving over 72 cities, with eight locations, FCA has over 20 programs for children and families in need. In addition to outpatient services, FCA has a shelter for homeless moms and children, adolescent group homes for boys and girls, a therapeutic foster care program, a teen substance abuse program and many more. For more information about Family & Children’s Aid, please visit fcaweb.org.

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