The Annual Toy Drive sponsored by City of Fillmore Fire is underway! Unwrapped toy donations are currently being accepted at Fillmore Fire Station 91 located at 711 Sespe Place, Fillmore. All donors will receive a ticket for each toy donated good for one BBQ Chicken Dinner. The BBQ will take place on Sunday, December 19th, 2010 between the hours of 4:00PM – 7:00PM. Dinner will be served at the Fire Station or you may take advantage of our drive thru service. Toys may be brought to the station from now until December 19th, 5-7pm.

In addition to our chicken dinner, Fillmore Fire has teamed up with a few local merchants who offer incentives to those who donate to the toy drive. El Pescador is also receiving toys for the drive and will give a 15% discount to anyone bringing in a new, unwrapped toy by December 20th. Pescador owner Chuy Ortiz can be reached at 805-797-4341 or you may call Evaristo Barajas at 805-889-5385 to pick up toys or new children’s coats. Cash for coats may also be donated to Laura Bartels, Director, Santa Clara Valley Legal Aid, 805-524-1934. You can send checks for children’s winter coats to Winter Coat Fund, c/o Laura Bartels, 540 Sespe Avenue, Suite #2, Fillmore, CA 93015, or to Winter Coat Fund at the Santa Clara Valley Bank, 527 Sespe Avenue, Fillmore, CA 93015 Account #002-112027 or go to wintercoatdrive.com and make a donation using Paypal. Your winter coat donation is tax-deductible if made through the web-site as the Volunteer Legal Service Program has allowed us an umbrella of their 501c(3) status.

Toys and coats will be distributed to Fillmore children on Tuesday December 21st, 3:00PM at the North Fillmore Sheriffs Department Storefront Station located on Lemon Way in Fillmore. Each week hundreds of families in Fillmore struggle to put food on the table and pay rent, leaving many families without money for day to day luxuries. Many of these families are left disappointed when they are unable to provide their children with a new toy during the holidays. With your assistance you can help bring a smile to a child’s face this Holiday Season!
For more information please visit our website at www.fillmoretoydrive.com.

Last year 1,030 coats and toys were handed out to 1,439 kids from 358 families. The Fillmore Fire Department gave out 60 turkeys. Each child who sat on Santa’s lap received a free Polaroid of the moment along with a candy cane.

Make this Christmas a happy one for many children and give!