A total of 45 local families, accounting for 131 children, had their Christmas holiday made just a little brighter, thanks to the Friday, Dec. 23 toy distribution at the Escalon fire station on Coley Avenue.
The effort, coordinated by the Escalon Fire Department in cooperation with the Escalon American Legion/American Legion Riders, also sees support from Escalon Police Department and Escalon Community Ambulance, with volunteers from all those organizations stepping up to help run the distribution program. Also this year, several student-athletes from Escalon High School donated time to assist on Friday morning.
The collection of toys at several locations throughout the community was done over the past few weeks.
Program coordinator, firefighter Ryan Burr, said the sign-up day was hosted earlier this month and was for families in need living within the Escalon Fire Protection District boundaries. It is offered for ages from infant up to 15 years old, for both boys and girls.
Toys are collected and then brought to the firehouse, where they are sorted into the appropriate age groups for boys and girls prior to being bagged up for the distribution.
“It went incredibly well,” noted Escalon Fire Chief Rick Mello, adding that the pile of toys was efficiently separated by the crew of volunteers that arrived early Friday, several hours prior to the scheduled 10 a.m. start time for the distribution.
As they have for the past few years, families participating drove up behind the firehouse, with the team of volunteers ready to gather the needed bags of toys for each family as they arrived. A stuffed animal was also provided for each child in the family.
“It was pretty close to last year,” Burr said of the families participating, with the 2021 number coming in at 42 families, but the overall number of children about the same.
He said they also are looking to get some new boxes for the collection effort next year, as the ones they have been using are several years old and in dilapidated condition.
“We want to try to ‘festive’ them up a bit,” Burr said.
Chief Mello added that they are hoping to get a community partner to help offset the cost of the new boxes.
Members of the Escalon American Legion Gustafson-Thompson Post 263 turned out early to help with sorting the toys but could not stay for the distribution, as they had honor guard duty elsewhere later in the morning. But along with the police, fire and ambulance personnel on hand, there were a number of EHS students happy to join the effort.
“It feels good to be able to give back,” said varsity basketball player Kelsey Webster. “This community has given me so much; it’s nice to help people in need at this time of year.”
Fellow varsity basketball player Analise Silveira was also there to represent the Lady Cougars while several cheerleaders were on hand, a volleyball player, some varsity boys basketball players and a couple representatives from the varsity football team.
“We’re just trying to help the community,” agreed football player Hunter Budd. “It was pretty interesting trying to figure out what the kids might like.”
For the girls, the breakdown of ages was: Infant girl, two; ages one to three, 10; four to six, 16; seven to nine, 15; ages 10 to 12, 17; and 13- to 15-years-old, 11.
There was one infant boy signed up, with 13 in the one to three age range. For boys four to six, there were six signed up, seven to nine, 16; ages 10 to 12, 13; and 13- to 15-years-old, 11.
Varsity basketball player Jack Anderson said he and teammates Sawyer Mello and Logan Huebner attended because their coach, Nate Bartelink, told them volunteers were needed.
“Some of my friends were doing it and it seemed like a good way to give back,” Anderson noted.
Mello, meanwhile, said he enjoyed both the opportunity to do some service work “and a donut” that the volunteers were treated to during the morning.
“It was an eye opener,” cheerleader Natalie Ruiz added of helping to fill the bags of toys for those in need. “It helped me realize how fortunate I am to have what I have.”
