Menlo Park Firefighters' Toy Drive 2021

The Toys for Tots Program is a well known toy collection campaign put on by the United States Marine Corps and is a registered trademark of the United States Marine Corp Reserves. That program was the impetus for what has become the Menlo Park Firefighter Associations’ Annual Toy and Food Drive.

Our Association was a collection point for the Marines from the late 60’s until two of our members, Fire Captains Brad Steiger (USMC) and John Rohrer (USN), became heavily involved in 1979. In 1984, the Association’s Toy Drive stepped out on its own under the leadership of Ray Abel (USMC). It is important to recognize that the Toy Drive has operated on it’s own for four decades, is an effort of all Association Members and has the full support of the Fire District.

The Association normally collects toys, books, stuffed animals, food and monetary donations. We have used Saint Anthony’s Church, Stanford Hospital, the Menlo Park VA Hospital, Second Harvest Food Bank, Ecumenical Hunger Program and the Ronald McDonald House in the past to distribute the holiday charity.

In a typical year, the fortunate recipients included; patients on two floors of Stanford Children’s Hospital, 500 children at the Menlo Park VA Hospital, 850 – 1500 children receive toys at Saint Anthony’s on Christmas Eve, almost 500 children on Christmas Day at St. Anthony’s, and the Second Harvest Food Bank normally receives 20 barrels of food which aids in their efforts to provide a Holiday meal to members of our community. Last Year due to COVOD 19 our efforts were limited to 419 Children at Saint Anthony’s and 200 children at the Menlo Park VA.