Joliet Fire Department's Toys For Tots Still Taking Donations

JOLIET, IL — With Christmas a month away, the Joliet Fire Department wants to remind people that there is still time left to make a donation to the Toys for Tots program. The Joliet Fire Department has helped Toys for Tots for a number of years.

Joliet Fire Chief Greg Blaskey told Joliet Patch on Wednesday that donations of new or unused toys that will go to local children in need this holiday season are still being accepted at all nine Joliet fire stations through Tuesday, Dec. 1.

All the toys are then turned over to the Marine Reserves who administer the program, Blaskey said.

Blaskey said the residents of Joliet have done a great job over the years of supporting the program. Historically, Joliet Fire Station 8 on Essington Road has been a popular drop-off location, the chief. "But all of our stations see numbers because the community steps up to help," Blaskey said. "We always get a tremendous response. People bring in just about anything, from new footballs, to new Barbie dolls to new Tonka trucks.

"Anything is accepted and everything is greatly appreciated," the fire chief added.

According to its website, the Marine Toys for Tots Program distributes an average of 18 million toys to 7 million less fortunate children annually. Toys for Tots began in 1947 thanks to Marine Corps Reserve Major Bill Hendricks and his wife, Diane. The Joliet Fire Department is again partnering with the United States Marine Corp. in the Toys for Tots program.