How You Can Help The Sierra Vista Firefighter Toy Drive, an Arizona Tradition

Collecting Toys for Children in Sierra Vista, Hereford, and Palominas

With so many wonderful traditions in Sierra Vista, it's a joy to help the Sierra Vista Firefighters as they continue this great annual event.

Each year Townsquare Media partners with the Sierra Vista Firefighters to spread joy to the kids right here in our community.

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For over 50 years, Sierra Vista Fire and Medical Services have worked with the people of our community, as well as businesses and local organizations to make sure all of the kids in our area have something to unwrap for Christmas

History: How the Firefighter Toy Drive Began

The founder of the Sierra Vista Firefighter Toy Drive, retired Fire Marshal Paul Cimino told me how it all began.

Paul shared, “One year I had to visit a local home around the holidays for a minor emergency. When I entered the home, I realized they had nothing to give their children for Christmas.” So, Paul enlisted the help of a small group of Sierra Vista firefighters and went shopping. They did what they could together to bring the kids a few modest gifts.

That one act of kindness lit the spark that has continued to this day: to help families in need during the holidays.

How To Help the Firefighters this Holiday Season

Helping the Sierra Vista Fire Department is easy. Just bring a new, unwrapped toy – or toys – and drop them off on Wednesdays in the Schlotzsky's/Ace Hardware parking lot throughout the holiday season.

We'll be helping the Sierra Vista Fire Department with a live on-air broadcast as we collect new, unwrapped toys. Stop by on Wednesday, December 6th and 13th from 4 pm to 6 pm.

Don’t have time to go shopping? The firefighters are happy to do that for you! Just drop off gift cards or cash and they’ll find toys to “fill the gaps” where there are not enough donations – to ensure every registered kid aged newborn to 12 years old gets a little something under the tree.

Drive Through "Santa Claus Lane" to Drop Off the Gifts

Just drive up to the corner of Highway 92 and Fry Boulevard in the Schlotzsky’s/Ace Hardware parking lot from 4 pm to 6 pm on any Wednesday through December 13^th, and the firefighters will help unload the toys from your car, drive-thru style.

We'll be live on the air courtesy of Copper Queen Community Hospital, Palominas and Hereford Clinics and Sulphur Springs Valley Electric Cooperative.

Or stay and visit with us, enjoy some hot cocoa, and hotdogs, and share the holiday spirit as we work together to make a brighter holiday for kids in Sierra Vista!

If you can’t make it to our collection drive, you can drop off donations at any Sierra Vista area fire station!

MORE INFORMATION

For more information on how to help or how to volunteer, contact Don Foster at (520) 417-4400. If you’d like to apply for assistance, click here to learn more. Now you can make a donation using Venmo below!