16th Annual New Bedford Firefighters Union Toy Drive

WHAT: The City’s firefighters and United Way of Greater New Bedford are coordinating the 16th Annual New Bedford Firefighters Union Toy Drive.

The drive called for donations of new, unwrapped toys which will then be distributed, with the assistance of United Way of Greater New Bedford, to deserving children through local non-profit agencies. Last year, the drive netted nearly 2,000 new toys, books and stuffed animals, as well as cash donations that were used to purchase additional toys.

In addition to the City’s fire stations, toys were collected at Ashley Ford, Baarsvik Orthodontics, Busters Sports Bar & Grill, Club Fit Dartmouth, First Citizens Credit Union, Flagship Cinemas of New Bedford, Glaser Glass, Knuckleheads, Lowes, Munchkin Mania, New Bedford Credit Union, New Bedford Credit Union, New Bedford Housing Authority, New Bedford Star Oil Co., PharmaHealth, Rockland Trust, TJMaxx, Town of Fairhaven, Treeland Nursery, USA Jeep Owner Association or Zapp

WHEN: Monday, December 15th

WHERE: Toys will be sorted beginning at 9:30 a.m. at the Fire Station on the corner of Potomska and Purchase Streets. Toys will then be distributed to agencies beginning at 10:30 a.m. The following agencies would provide the best photo opportunities:

• Donovan House (59 Rockland St., New Bedford – off of County St.)
• YWCA (89 Merrimack St., New Bedford)
• The Women’s Center (405 County St., New Bedford)
• Northstar Learning Centers (53 Linden St., New Bedford)
• HarbOur House (713 Shawmut Ave., New Bedford)
• Schwartz Center (One Posa Pl. North Dartmouth)
• SEMCOA – Monarch House (252 County Street, New Bedford)
• Temple Landing (370 Middle St, New Bedford)

**NOTE: PACE, New Bedford Community Connections Coalition, and Immigrants’ Assistance Center The Woods at Wareham, Wareham Early Child Care, and the Family Preservation Program will also receive toys.

CONTACT: For additional information, contact Victoria Grasela (United Way), 508-994-9625 ext 10 or day of 774-526-9423