From infants to teens, a total of 135 area children got some special holiday gifts, courtesy of the annual toy collection program hosted in Escalon.
A cooperative effort of the Escalon Fire Department, Escalon Police Department and Escalon American Legion Post 263, this year’s toy drive successfully met the needs of 56 families within the Escalon Fire District. There were 66 girls and 69 boys signed up for the distribution.
Age groups included infant, one- to three-years old, four- to six-years old, seven- to nine-years, 10- to 12-years and 13- to 15-years old.
Greatest age category of need for the girls was seven to nine, with 18 girls signed up. For the boys, the highest need was in the 10 to 12 age group, with 21 boys registered.
Serving as main coordinator for the project is longtime Escalon firefighter/engineer Ryan Burr.
“This is something the community has come to depend on for the less fortunate children; we’ve been doing this on our own now for 13 or 14 years,” Burr explained of moving away from the Marine Corps Toys for Tots program more than a decade ago. “We’ve joined up with the Escalon Police Department as well as the veterans to do this. The more that sign up, the more it makes us want to keep doing it; it’s great for the less fortunate kids, it brings a smile to their face and it’s exciting for them to get a whole bag of toys instead of just one.”
Burr said the generosity of local residents – who drop new, unwrapped toys into collection boxes throughout the community – helps make the program successful.
“Everything donated in Escalon stays in Escalon,” Burr added of the distribution open to those living within the Escalon Fire District boundaries.
The giveaway operation started early Thursday morning, Dec. 19, as the volunteers gathered at the fire station on Coley Avenue and the toys were sorted into age groups, as well as by gender. Then, with the list of how many bags were needed for each age group and gender, the bagging began.
Burr said there is usually an abundance of toys for the youngest kids; and with gift cards and monetary donations that come in, officials can make a last-minute shopping run to help fill the gaps for those age groups that might be light on items.
“Just to give back to the kids in Escalon,” San Joaquin County deputy Ashley Winkler said of why she turned out Thursday to help with the distribution day.
“It’s a great cause,” added deputy Aaron Silva.
Volunteer Kimberly Dick has been helping out for several years and the EHS Class of 2019 alum said it provides a good start to the holidays.
“It’s great, to see a surplus of gifts, great to see all the families,” she said.
For Escalon Police Chief Anthony Hardgraves, the toy distribution represents the best of the community and the local organizations working together.
“Nice to be able to give back to the community,” Hardgraves noted. “The community supports the fire department, police department, they support us so we try to do what we can to support them and give back, help the people who need help; not everybody is as fortunate so we try to help where we can.”
He said the effort “just goes to show the generosity and the excellent community that we have here in Escalon.”
Among those members of the Escalon American Legion Post helping out was Vince Giovaniello.
“There’s a lot of toys, more toys than we need to have but we’re going to give them out, make sure everybody gets a good selection,” Giovaniello said. “We like just the idea that we’re helping out the community and especially with the people that can’t afford it or are having a rough time at Christmas.”
Those families receiving gift bags for their children had to sign up in advance; the drive-thru distribution began at 10 a.m. Thursday, after all the bags were filled with toys and ready for delivery.
