FREDERICKTOWN — As Fredericktown firefighters and their families walked the aisles of local stores Wednesday evening shopping for toys to give to children they have never met, the joy they felt in the task was clear on every face.
“I think it’s important in a small town that we all look out for each other,” said Lt. Shane Smith, one of the organizers of the annual toy drive.
The Fredericktown Fire Department held its second annual toy drive this year, and with the help of local businesses and members of the community, over 100 children will wake up to find brand new toys under the tree this Christmas.
Firefighters and their families held bake sales throughout the year, organized a boot drive at local businesses where community members could place monetary donations in fire boots, served chili at the Christmas Walk in Fredericktown and opened collection points around town.
Their efforts paid off. Around $3,500 was raised, according to Smith, and hundreds of toys were dropped off. The money was used to purchase more toys for Interchurch Social Services clients in Fredericktown who had requested help this Christmas.
Wal-Mart donated $1,000 worth of toys, and Big Lots discounted a portion of the purchase price of toys the firefighters purchased at its store.
The toys were distributed Thursday by Interchurch. Families were given the opportunity to choose a few toys for their children.
Firefighter Duane Van Horn, one of the fire department chaplains, said shopping for the toys added joy to the Christmas of all involved.
“It just brought back some special memories,” Van Horn said of the shopping time at Wal-Mart, Kmart and Big Lots.
He said he was reminded of the special look on the faces of his grandchildren when they open their presents at Christmas.
“Seeing it through their eyes, I thought it was pretty special to see how other children’s faces could light up,” Van Horn said. “I’m glad that as a fire department we’re able to do something like that.”
Assistant Chief Larry Schunke said the support of the community made the toy drive work.
Smith agreed.
“The public and local businesses really made this work,” he said.
Chief Scott Mast said the support of the community, and the efforts of the firefighters and their families, have made the toy drive even more of a success in its second year. He said the fact that so many families were assisted was very gratifying to him and his fellow firefighters.
Kelly Smith of the Fredericktown Interchurch branch said 58 families were aided through the program.
“The people were very blessed and happy to get to pick from such a great assortment of toys,” Smith said. “The firefighters did a great job.”
“To me it wasn’t work, it was enjoyable,” Smith said of the toy drive effort. “You can’t put a price tag on a kid’s happiness at Christmas.”
