Gift Requests Up 30 Percent For Vernon Fire Department's Toys For Tikes Program

VERNON, CT — There has been a dramatic increase in the number of Vernon families seeking help with holiday gifts from the Vernon Volunteer Fire Department’s annual holiday Toys for Tikes campaign.

The same goes for the Vernon Social Services Department’s program to help local teens.

So far, firefighters have been asked to provide gifts for 430 children. That's 30 percent more than last year.

Firefighters are hoping the community will help them achieve their goal of providing several toys for each child. The fire department asks for donations of new, unwrapped toys for infants through 12-year-olds.

"This is truly a community effort and the people of Vernon always come through for our kids," Toys for Tikes Coordinator Nettie Kenzior said. "This year we have a lot more kids to take care of and with Vernon residents' help, we'll do it."

Vernon Social Services has a more requests to assist children ages 13 to 17 than gift cards to provide to families, and welcomes additional donations so it can help more teens.

There are several avenues to help:

• Firefighters are hosting a Stuff a Truck event on Sunday, Dec. 14 from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at Rocky’s Ace Hardware, 73 Windsor Ave. People can drop off toys at the event.
• Vernon Social Services is requesting cards in $25 denominations for local retailers, such as Kohl’s, TJ Maxx and Walmart. Donations can be dropped at the Social Services office at Town Hall.
• Toys for Toys for Tikes donations can also be dropped in boxes at the following locations: Town Hall, the Vernon Police Department, the Rockville Public Library, Vernon Senior Center, the Board of Education, Vernon Center Middle School, Vernon’s five elementary schools, and several area businesses.

Donations are being accepted through Dec. 19. Families have until Dec. 15 to sign up to receive toys. They can sign up by filling out a request form here or by calling 860-870-3670. For children 13 to 17, call Vernon Social Services at 860-870-3661 by Thursday.