Stamford firefighters wrap toys for annual toy drive
The toys were collected from the city's nine firehouses.
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Stamford firefighters are making sure kids in shelters and hospitals have gifts this Christmas.
Firefighters and students from Stamford Transition Services wrapped hundreds of toys Friday that were donated to the Stamford firefighters toy drive.
"I feel happy because I love giving back to people. Every kid needs a gift," says student Henry Day.
The program helps young adults ages 18 to 22 with disabilities who have completed high school transition into living independently and become employed.
"All of our little helper elves, it puts a smile on their face. At their graduation of the program, they talk about the wrapping that they did the past year, and that's pretty cool," says Brian Slattery, a Stamford firefighter.
The toys were collected from the city's nine firehouses.
Next week, they will be given to kids in shelters, hospitals and those facing situations of need.
Organizers say it is rewarding to be involved, and that the drive couldn't be done without public support.
"The need is there, but the generosity is also there, and the generosity continues to grow with the need, which makes it easier for us to accommodate everyone. Anything extra, it gets distributed to Toys for Tots, Salvation Army. More organizations are coming together to help us collect all the toys, which is pretty impressive," says Slattery.
