Two ambulances stuffed with toys from Shelton’s Echo Hose Hook and Ladder made a massive donation to TEAM’s Valley Toys for Tots program Monday.
It took about 35 minutes for TEAM staffers, volunteers and five members of Echo Hose to empty the vehicles.
Over the past few weeks, Echo Hose and the Shelton Fire Department, along with various Shelton businesses, have collected thousands of dollars worth of toys and money for the Valley Toys for Tots program, which gives toys to Valley families in need.
TEAM is a non-profit community action agency.
Diane Stroman, TEAM’s vice-president of development, was grateful for the donations, especially since the level of giving seems to be a bit off from last year, she said.
(Click the video to watch the drop off and to hear more information about the program from Stroman. Note: video repeats itself twice due to technical difficulties)
There has been a flurry of donations in the past week, including a toy drive by the Seymour Police Department.
This year’s Toys for Tots store is at 153 Main St. in Ansonia. TEAM, based in Derby, is using the office space free of charge.
Families — who are pre-registered and pre-qualified — will begin picking out toys this week.
Toy donations are still being accepted — and there is a shortage of items for children between the ages of 10 and 14 (gift cards are an idea).
Volunteers are still needed to distribute the toys. About 1,700 children are expect to receive toys between now and Dec. 25, Stroman estimated.
The drop off Monday afternoon by Echo Hose included donations from residents and businesses in Shelton. The two ambulances arrives shortly after members of the Pine Rock Fire Department, also from Shelton, dropped off toy donations they’ve collected.
The members of Echo Hose who helped make the delivery Monday were:
Jamie Goldstein
Chad Gomez
Assistant Chief Joe Laucella
Andrew Weber
Lt. Andrew Zebendon
