Vernon Fire Department Pulls It Off: 500 Holiday Gifts Delivered To Local Children

VERNON, CT — In 2025, Vernon's Christmas story totaled 500 pages.

OK, make that 500 gifts.

Thanks to the generosity of Vernon residents and businesses, Vernon firefighters Monday night loaded up nearly 500 gifts to bring to local children for the holiday season.

Toy distribution began at 6 p.m. at the Nye Street fire station and firefighters then visited the homes of each family that signed up the the annual Toys for Tikes program to drop off gifts between 6 and 8:30 p.m.

"My jaw dropped when I saw how many toys we needed this year," said Nettie Kenzior, a fire police lieutenant who co-directs the program with Diane Carpenter. "But the residents of Vernon are always good. We pulled together and reached our goal."

Last year Vernon firefighters provided toys to about 250 local children. Then, on Dec. 15, the numbers shot up to a 100 percent increase in applications.

"It was sheer panic," Carpenter said of the initial realization that the demand doubled a week before delivery night. The highest totals prior to this year were 450 in 2011 and 444 the following year.

A total of 499 prompted concerns about whether there would be enough toys to meet the demand. The fire department then appealed to the public and Vernon residents and businesses came through with both toy and cash donations.

Was there ever any doubt?

"Not really," Carpenter said. "Vernon residents always come through. At one point, the piles of toys were higher than me."

Carpenter said that,. traditionally, a toy from the fire department and a book are given to each child. Children then get to pick another toy from donations sorted by age group.

Here's a look at the Toys for Tikes program in action.