2 Holiday Giving Traditions Alive And Well In Vernon

Seasonal & Holidays

The Vernon Fire Department Toys for Tikes program and the Social Services Department's Toy Shop are both seeking donations.

VERNON, CT — Two holiday service traditions in Vernon are about to begin.

The Vernon Social Services Department and Town of Vernon Fire Department are working together "to ensure all Vernon families have a happy holiday season" and are asking the community for donations to support the effort.

There are two featured programs:

The fire department will again carry out its Toys for Tikes program, for which firefighters

gather new toys to distribute to infants through 12-year-olds.

The Vernon Social Services Department's Toy Shop, which parents and guardians can visit to select items, serves children ages 2 to 15.

Families can sign up for toy assistance by calling Vernon Social Services at 860-870-3661, Ext. 9. Families are screened through the Vernon Public Schools to ensure they live in Vernon, and families can only sign up for one program.

"Every December when I join our volunteer firefighters and others at the Nye Street firehouse to sort and select toys for delivery to Vernon children, I am struck by the generosity of our community," Vernon Mayor Dan Champagne said. "Vernon residents always come through, especially for children. And I know we'll do it again this holiday season."

The fire department is collecting unwrapped toys through Dec. 20. During the week of Nov. 18, collection bins will be placed at Town Hall, the Vernon Police Department, the Rockville Public Library, the Vernon Senior Center, Vernon Center Middle School, the five elementary schools and several businesses. Toys are delivered to families on Dec. 23.

Financial donations to the Toys for Tikes program can be sent to the Vernon Volunteer Firefighters Association, P.O. Box 951, Vernon, CT 06066.

The Social Services Department is seeking donations of unwrapped toys for its Toy Shop that allows parents and guardians to select items for their children ages 2 to 12, or gift cards for teens 13 to 15. Donations can be dropped off at the Social Services Department at Town Hall, 14 Park Place, Vernon.

Donors who choose to buy gift cards are asked to buy them in $25 increments from stores that will be accessible to local families, such as Kohl's, T.J. Maxx and Walmart. Donors are asked to drop off items by Dec. 12.

The signup for the Toy Shop ends Dec. 9. The signup for Toys for Tikes ends Dec. 16.