Marlborough Firefighters Put Out Call For Toy Donations

MARLBOROUGH, MA — The Marlborough Fire Department has put out a call for toy donations with the coronavirus pandemic cutting into typical collections.

The department has been participating in the U.S. Marines' Toys For Tots drive for years, but donations are down in 2020. The department is collecting items through Dec. 7 for delivery to local kids before Christmas.

"The members of the Marlborough Fire Department have worked closely with the U.S. Marine Corp. organizing the Toys for Tots campaign in Marlborough. The COVID-19 pandemic has taken its toll on donations this year. We're in need of new and unopened toys for donation," the department said in a Monday Facebook post.

In a typical year, organizations like the fire department host events to collect toys. Holding those events may not be possible this year due to coronavirus.

In 2019, Toys For Tots collected more than 70,000 toys for about 34,000 children across Middlesex and Essex counties, according to local organizers.

You can drop donations off at the main fire station at 215 Maple St. Toys For Tots is collecting donations at locations across the region, including multiple sites in Marlborough.