Firefighters, university launch holiday toy drives

By Christian Gaston

The Forest Grove News-Times, Nov 12, 2009

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Firefighters in Cornelius and Forest Grove are kicking off their annual effort to get toys and food into the hands of needy families in time for the winter holidays.

Dave Nemeyer, spokesman for Forest Grove Fire & Rescue, said firefighters are starting to gather toys and canned food early this year.

Items can be dropped off at the Forest Grove Fire Station, 1919 Ash St., in Forest Grove. Families in need are being asked to sign up for assistance starting Nov. 23. Requests will be accepted until Dec. 11.

“It’s still first come, first served based on donations and what we have to support it,” Nemeyer said.

The Cornelius Fire Department partners with Forest Grove to operate the toy drive, which served more than 700 kids in western Washington County last year.

“That’s kind of the cool thing about this project,” Nemeyer said. “Our stuff really stays local.”

Pacific University is also sponsoring a Toys for Tots toy drive.

Unwrapped, new toys can be dropped off at the Health Professions Campus, 222 SE Eighth Ave. in Hillsboro, or at the first floor of Marsh Hall, located at Pacific’s Forest Grove campus.