CORNWALL, Ontario – Sparky had a little help collecting for the annual Sparky’s Toy Drive on Friday, Dec. 14, 2018.
There were 18 volunteer firefighters and one bus driver who travelled around to 27 different locations in Cornwall, playing music on guitars, singing Christmas Carols, and collecting toys.
“We have two goals today,” said Cornwall firefighter Pat Elliot. “One is to make sure that every kid has a gift for Christmas and the second is to make sure that everyone has a safe Christmas.”
For their second goal Elliot said that the firefighters were reminding everyone that day to check their smoke alarms this holiday season.
The firefighters were collecting hundreds of toys, enough to fill a cube van and part of a school bus.
The toys will be sorted at the Agapè Centre and distributed on Wednesday, Dec. 19 at the Cornwall Armoury by the Cornwall Optimist Club.
The firefighters have been helping Sparky with his toy drive for more than 20 years.
“I want to help give back to the community,” said Elliot. “It is an easy one to do. Yes, it is a lot of work, but there is a definite need for it.”
