GREENFIELD — Many donors to the annual Giving Back Together Toy Drive are accustomed to dropping off their toys at the Fire Station. Amid the pandemic, the Fire Station isn’t one of the collection sites this year, but that hasn’t stopped firefighters from chipping in.
Greenfield Fire Capt. Alex Cooley said firefighters will be at Greenfield High School from 4:30 to 7 p.m. on Friday to collect toys. For health safety reasons, only new toys will be accepted this year.
The idea, Cooley said, was to have an outdoor collection site. Timing the collection for Friday was purposeful, as a lot of foot traffic is expected — the school’s Key Club is running a drive-thru food drive from 3 to 5 p.m., and Cooley said Student Council will be handing out puzzles and hot cocoa ahead of winter break.
“It’s been great to collaborate with the high school,” Cooley said.
Greenfield firefighter Adam Mitchell said the plan is to stuff a fire engine with toys.
“Hopefully it continues to have the success it has had,” Mitchell said of the toy drive.
The Giving Back Together Toy Drive, which was founded by Heather Taylor, is now in its seventh year. After Mitchell met Taylor, he started contributing to the toy drive on his own, dropping off toys at The RECOVER Project, where families have come in previous years to receive the toys.
Then, the rest of the Fire Department became involved, and has been donating toys for three or four years.
“Heather keeps all the stuff local,” Mitchell said, adding that the cause “really hit home with the guys at the Fire Department.”
Mitchell said the Greenfield Police Department helps out as well, with the two departments organizing shopping trips together. Local businesses also pitch in, with Mitchell noting that Matt Parody of Parody Builders & Sons is bringing a trailer filled with toys to Friday’s collection.
Because the toys stay local, Mitchell said the firefighters sometimes see the families that the toy drive benefits, giving their contributions a deeper meaning.
“I’ve seen faces that I’ve recognized, having met them in public, picking up toys at the toy drive,” he said.
And, given the economic fallout of the pandemic, Cooley said, there’s more families that could use the help this year. On the other hand, there may also be fewer people in the position to donate.
For those who cannot make it to Greenfield High School on Friday, the other collection sites for the Giving Back Together Toy Drive are: 77 Second St., Turners Falls; Sandri Energy, 400 Chapman St., Greenfield; American Knight Transportation, 357 Main St., Greenfield; and 205 South St., Athol.
Reach Shelby Ashline at 413-772-0261, ext. 270 or sashline@recorder.com.