SLVFD Hosts Holiday Helpers Toy Drive
 
By SLVFD News Room
November 30, 2024
 

The SLVFD is honored to host our generous community during the annual Holiday Helpers Toy Drive.

Co-hosts Dawn Rogers and Patti Ploof as well as Mikayla Ploof represented The Saranac Lake Holiday Helpers and were on hand to greet community members and organizations who filed through the SLVFD doors from 10:00am to 2:00pm on Saturday 11/30/2024.

SLVFD members were also on hand decorating the firehouse with Christmas decorations and visiting with everyone who stopped by.

All of this activity was overshadowed by a little fury creature who has captured the hearts of not only the SLVFD members but also our community. SLVFD’s new mascot Smokey 7 made her holiday debut receiving pets, hugs and kisses from children and adults alike.

Holiday Helpers is an organization that provides Christmas assistance to families in need during the holidays. The families must live within the area of the Saranac Lake school district. Community members are asked to provide unwrapped clothing and toys or monetary donations to support the program.

The program works like this: On December 14th starting at 7:45am at the Saranac Lake Baptist Church parents will start arriving for their scheduled appointments. They are greeted by their personal shopping Elf and led to an age appropriate gift table for their children, where they will choose toys for each child. They then are directed to a hat/mitten/sock table where they can also choose items for their child. Each family also receives a board game, a blanket and stuffy for each child as well as some books. They are given the requested clothing item for each child, and a ticket for a food basked once they get outside. The food basket is quite elaborate and includes both a Christmas meal and a supply of other groceries for the vacation period.

Families in need complete an application and if approved are added to the list. This year Holiday Helper is expecting to assist 80 plus families consisting of approximately 175 children under the age of 12.

The Co-Chairs of the Holiday Helpers wish to emphasize that this program could not exist without the overwhelming and generous support of the community. The SLVFD is honored to be part of this process.

We would like to wish everyone a wonderful Holiday Season, remember upcoming on December 6th is the Annual Lighted Fire Truck Parade, we hope to see you there.
 
SLVFD Firefighters were on hand decorating the fire house for Christmas.
SLVFD Firefighters were on hand decorating the fire house for Christmas.
Community Members stopped in throughout the day to drop off gifts.
Community Members stopped in throughout the day to drop off gifts.
 
Community Members stopped in throughout the day to drop off gifts.
Community Members stopped in throughout the day to drop off gifts.
Community Members stopped in throughout the day to drop off gifts.
Community Members stopped in throughout the day to drop off gifts.
 
Community Members stopped in throughout the day to drop off gifts.
Community Members stopped in throughout the day to drop off gifts.
SLVFD members helped carry in toys from donors cars.
SLVFD members helped carry in toys from donors cars.
 
NYSP Troop B employees collected toys for the toy drive.
NYSP Troop B employees collected toys for the toy drive.
A NYSP Trooper who dropped off toys spent some time visiting with Smokey and this child who also dropped off presents.
A NYSP Trooper who dropped off toys spent some time visiting with Smokey and this child who also dropped off presents.
 
A NYSP Trooper who dropped off toys spent some time visiting with Smokey
A NYSP Trooper who dropped off toys spent some time visiting with Smokey
Community Members stopped in throughout the day to drop off gifts.
Community Members stopped in throughout the day to drop off gifts.
 
SLVFD members helped carry in toys from donors cars.
SLVFD members helped carry in toys from donors cars.
Community Members stopped in throughout the day to drop off gifts.
Community Members stopped in throughout the day to drop off gifts.
 
SLVFD members helped carry in toys from donors cars.
SLVFD members helped carry in toys from donors cars.
The Saranac Lake Volunteer Rescue Squad collected a pile of toys, when delivered they were able to spend some time with Smokey.
The Saranac Lake Volunteer Rescue Squad collected a pile of toys, when delivered they were able to spend some time with Smokey.
 
Lieutenant Justin Fletcher takes a moment to pose with his family who came by to drop off toys and visit with Smokey.
Lieutenant Justin Fletcher takes a moment to pose with his family who came by to drop off toys and visit with Smokey.
Community Members stopped in throughout the day to drop off gifts.
Community Members stopped in throughout the day to drop off gifts.
 
Community Members stopped in throughout the day to drop off gifts.
Community Members stopped in throughout the day to drop off gifts.
The pile of toys continued to grow and grow...
The pile of toys continued to grow and grow...
 
Our neighbors at the Bloomindale VFD also hosted a toy drive at their station. BFD Misc. 209 arrives with a truckload of presents.
Our neighbors at the Bloomindale VFD also hosted a toy drive at their station. BFD Misc. 209 arrives with a truckload of presents.
Volunteers take a moment to pose with the large pile of toys donated by our generous community.The
Volunteers take a moment to pose with the large pile of toys donated by our generous community.The
 
A wreath with a special decoration for smokey adorns the main doorway.
A wreath with a special decoration for smokey adorns the main doorway.
A wreath with a special decoration for smokey adorns the main doorway.
A wreath with a special decoration for smokey adorns the main doorway.
 
Collected Toys were transported to the Saranac Lake Baptist Church awaiting to be sorted for distribution.
Collected Toys were transported to the Saranac Lake Baptist Church awaiting to be sorted for distribution.
Collected Toys were transported to the Saranac Lake Baptist Church awaiting to be sorted for distribution.
Collected Toys were transported to the Saranac Lake Baptist Church awaiting to be sorted for distribution.
 
Volunteers from Holiday Helpers and the SLVFD carry collected toys from the trailer into the Saranac Lake Baptist Church.
Volunteers from Holiday Helpers and the SLVFD carry collected toys from the trailer into the Saranac Lake Baptist Church.
Volunteers from Holiday Helpers and the SLVFD carry collected toys from the trailer into the Saranac Lake Baptist Church.
Volunteers from Holiday Helpers and the SLVFD carry collected toys from the trailer into the Saranac Lake Baptist Church.
 
An SLVFD pick up and utility trailer full of gifts positions itself outside the Saranac Lake Baptist Church.
An SLVFD pick up and utility trailer full of gifts positions itself outside the Saranac Lake Baptist Church.
Volunteers from Holiday Helpers and the SLVFD load an SLVFD trailer with toys collected for transport to the Saranac Lake Baptist Church.
Volunteers from Holiday Helpers and the SLVFD load an SLVFD trailer with toys collected for transport to the Saranac Lake Baptist Church.
 
Volunteers from Holiday Helpers and the SLVFD load an SLVFD trailer with toys collected for transport to the Saranac Lake Baptist Church.
Volunteers from Holiday Helpers and the SLVFD load an SLVFD trailer with toys collected for transport to the Saranac Lake Baptist Church.
SLVFD members helped carry in toys from donors cars.
SLVFD members helped carry in toys from donors cars.
 
SLVFD members helped carry in toys from donors cars.
SLVFD members helped carry in toys from donors cars.
SLVFD Firefighters were on hand decorating the fire house for Christmas.
SLVFD Firefighters were on hand decorating the fire house for Christmas.
 
SLVFD Firefighters were on hand decorating the fire house for Christmas.
SLVFD Firefighters were on hand decorating the fire house for Christmas.
The Holiday Helpers sign posted in front of the SLVFD memorial.
The Holiday Helpers sign posted in front of the SLVFD memorial.
 
Fran Yardley who had dropped off presents, was nice enough to stick around and help create/draw this years Holiday Helpers sign.
Fran Yardley who had dropped off presents, was nice enough to stick around and help create/draw this years Holiday Helpers sign.
Community Members stopped in throughout the day to drop off gifts.
Community Members stopped in throughout the day to drop off gifts.
 
SLVFD Firefighters were on hand decorating the fire house for Christmas.
SLVFD Firefighters were on hand decorating the fire house for Christmas.
Community Members stopped in throughout the day to drop off gifts.
Community Members stopped in throughout the day to drop off gifts.
 
SLVFD Firefighters were on hand decorating the fire house for Christmas.
SLVFD Firefighters were on hand decorating the fire house for Christmas.