Beginning on Friday, November 23, Tualatin Valley Fire & Rescue will begin accepting toys on behalf of its Toy & Joy program. The public is invited to drop off NEW toys at any of the District’s fire stations between the hours of 8:00 a.m. and 8:00 p.m. Toys should be left unwrapped. Toys for older children (ages 12-17) are always in great demand. Monetary donations can also be dropped off at any fire station or mailed to the District’s Administration Center at 20665 S.W. Blanton Street, Aloha, Oregon 97007; Attn: Toy & Joy Program. Checks should be made out to Tualatin Valley Fire & Rescue. All money received is used to purchase toys and gift items for the program.

The Fire District has assisted needy families for over two decades through its Toy & Joy Program. Toys collected by the Fire District are given to dozens of local agencies that provide food baskets to needy families in Beaverton, Tigard, Tualatin, Cedar Mill, Cedar Hills, Wilsonville, Aloha, King City, Sherwood, east Hillsboro, West Linn, Oregon City, and unincorporated areas within Clackamas, Washington and Multnomah County. The District expects to help over 10,000 less fortunate children this year.

"Our program is totally dependent on donations from individuals, civic groups, schools, and businesses," stated Karen Eubanks, Public Information Officer. Eubanks added, "We are a little anxious this year in light of current economic conditions. Eubanks added, "We definitely expect to be engaged in a balancing act between an increase in requests for toys and a decrease in the level of giving." Businesses or other organizations interested in helping through toy or cash donations can call the Fire District’s Toy & Joy Hotline at (503) 642-0375. Families wanting to request a holiday basket (within Washington County) should call the Oregon Food Bank at 439-6510. To request a holiday basket outside of Washington County, call the Salvation Army at 231-4357.

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