A one day sign up will be held at the Escalon firehouse (Fire Station #1) at 1749 Coley Ave., Escalon, on Tuesday, Dec. 3 from 8 a.m. to noon.

Local residents hoping to receive some holiday gifts through the Toys for Tots program need to attend the sign ups and provide information about the age and gender of the children in the family needing the assistance.

Escalon Consolidated Fire Protection District Battalion Chief Terry Pinheiro said only those that sign up in advance will be able to come later in the month for the giveaway day.

Also, he said, “due to the demand for toys,” the program can only accommodate residents who live within the boundaries of the Escalon fire district.

The Toys for Tots program, which is run in cooperation with the U.S. Marine Corps Reserves, will see the collection boxes placed in more than a dozen locations around the community.

Those will be going out this week, said Pinheiro, and donations of new, unwrapped toys are sought for all ages, from toddlers to early teens.

Collection boxes will be available starting this week at: Big Boy Market, D’Boni’s Pizza, Mountain Mikes Pizza, The Learning Tree Preschool, Escalon Police Department, Escalon City Hall, Bank of the West and El Portal Middle School. Also, Vineyard Pharmacy, Main Street Market, Oak Valley Bank, BBVA Compass Bank, Ace Hardware, Escalon Fire Station #1, Pizza Plus, Escalon Christian Reformed Church, Escalon Covenant Church, Heck of a Deal and Escalon Premier Brands.

Pinheiro said the collection will continue through Dec. 20, with the giveaway day set for Saturday, Dec. 21 at the Coley Avenue fire station starting at 10 a.m.

For more information, call the fire department at 838-7500.