Monessen firefighters collect toys for kids

A fire truck was filled with donations that will be distributed by the Monessen Family Center.

Monessen’s volunteer fire departments held their annual toy drive Tuesday night to provide Christmas gifts for children in the area.

Many kids attended Monessen’s volunteer fire departments held their annual toy drive Tuesday night, including, from left, Treysen, Jai’Veya, Brennan, Jadynn and Trinity, who were drinking hot chocolate.

Monessen fire departments No. 1 and 2 hosted the fourth annual toy drive outside the Donner Avenue station with bonfires in the parking lot, a hot chocolate bar, crafts, pictures with Santa, food and Christmas music.

Volunteer firefighter Dave Evans created the toy drive a few years ago as a way to help his community.

“My wife works at Family Dollar, and we have signs and boxes for toys down there,” Evans said. “I do this every year now, and I do it for the kids.”

Monessen’s volunteer fire departments held their annual toy drive Tuesday night to provide Christmas gifts for children in the area. Photo by Monessen VFD No. 1

Several families attended the event, which was sponsored by the fire department auxiliary in conjunction with the Monessen Family Center.

The building had a room decorated with Christmas decorations where children were able to do crafts, play games and take pictures with Santa.

It’s the fourth year that the fire departments have partnered with the Monessen Family Center to collect toys. The truck was filled Tuesday with gifts for the center to distribute to families they serve in the area.

Toys will be given out early next week, according to Evans, and this was the first year it didn’t rain for the event.

“It’s a great event for families to be able to spend time with their children and to be able to collect toys for kids in the community,” said Kim Egidi, program director of the Monessen Family Center. “It’s a lot of fun.”

The center also does an Angel Tree every year, along with a toy distribution in Charleroi. It provides help throughout the year, according to Jessica Anderson, mobilizer for the center.

The center has partnerships with the Western Pennsylvania Diaper Bank, the Greater Pittsburgh Formula Bank, Mon Valley Paws and more.

“We have those things on site for families so they can come and get diapers,” Anderson said. “We have donations of food, clothing, things that families might need. Anything your whole family could possibly need, we might have it, and if we don’t have it, we can point you to where they are.”

Anderson said it has been a collaborative effort with the fire departments from the beginning for this event, and there is a big need this year for toys.

“I feel like every year there is a need, but this year by far,” she said. “Parents are really struggling with what they are going to do.”

After the event, Santa and some firemen joined employees from the center and drove the toys to the center’s location at 412 Reed Ave.

Anderson enjoyed the camaraderie of Tuesday’s gathering.

“I like the fact that it’s a donation event that will help other people, but it’s still a free event where families can come, and kids get to see Santa and they get to have free fun around the holidays,” she added. “There is still a good cause with it.”