By Rick Pfeiffer
Niagara Gazette
NIAGARA FALLS, N.Y. — As 50 or more current and retired Falls firefighters, their families and friends scurried around the basement of the Military Road fire hall Wednesday morning, Evie Swartz kept a close watch on them.
The infant daughter of Fire Captain Robbie Swartz, Evie was getting her first introduction into what the Niagara Falls Firefighters Christmas Toy Fund means to the department members and those close to them. Dressed up a bit like one of Santa’s elves, Evie sat in her stroller, surrounded by presents, and watched attentively as the firefighters raced to fill almost a thousand bags of toys, load them into trucks and cars, and send them on their way to less fortunate children in the Niagara Region.
The packing of the toys is a holiday tradition that has passed through generations of Falls firefighters, their wives, boyfriends, girlfriends and children. Evie is just the latest to join the tradition.
“I think it’s really awesome,” said Toy Fund Co-Chair and Falls Firefighter P.J. DiFrancesco ."The kids are having a great time helping.”
With the need in the community greater than ever, the Toy Fund will deliver bags of toys to 749 children this year. That’s 50 more than last year.
Each child receives two toys, matched to a Christmas wish list sent to Santa by the children themselves. The firefighters describe themselves as “Santa’s Helpers.”
“We’re working with our budget to get as many gifts as possible,” DiFrancesco said. “And looking to get more and higher quality gifts that the kids will use longer.”
The children receiving the gifts have been identified by 29 social service agencies serving kids and families locally.
The bag packing usually starts at about 9 a.m., and DiFrancesco said most of the bags would be out for delivery before lunchtime. Even as he spoke, Toy Fund Co-Chair and Firefighter John Carey was racing up the firehouse steps to begin filling up delivery vehicles.
“We need people to bring toys up,” Carey yelled at those in the basement.
Evie Swartz , with a cup of coffee sitting in the sippy cup holder of her stroller, giggled and nodded her head in agreement.
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