Caring caravan
More than 100 vehicles join annual Convoy for Tots
SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y.» More than 100 vehicles took to the road Sunday for this year’s Convoy for Tots, transporting thousands of toys for children in need.
Now in its fourth year, the event was hosted by the Saratoga County Sheriff’s Office and Capital Region Toys for Tots, a U.S. Marine Corps Reserve effort. The convoy — which included fire engines, ambulances, trucks, Jeeps and motorcycles — traveled from Ballston Spa to the Saratoga Performing Arts Center in Saratoga Springs, bringing people to- gether to help less fortunate children during the holiday season.
Vehicles from area businesses, civic organizations and emergency service agencies delivered new, unwrapped toys that were collected into boxes, then reloaded on a Toys For Tots tractor-trailer for distribution among needy families in 13 upstate counties severed by Capital Region Toys for Tots. This year, the convoy is estimated to have generated more than 13,000 donated toys, making it the largest Convoy for Tots to date.
“This is huge,” said Marine Corps Gunnery Sgt. Albert Roman, a Capital Region Toys for
Tots organizers. “We always talk about ‘Go big or go home.’ We’re definitely going big on this.”
Roman thanked a community that has helped the effort grow each year.
“Without you, we cannot make Christmas for these children,” he said.
Saratoga County Sheriff Michael Zurlo said he was humbled by the toy drive, reflecting onafirst-year goal of 1,000 toys that was matched 13 times over Sunday.
“The kids are going to have a great Christmas this year,” Zurlo said, also thanking all those involved.
Among those joining the convoy at SPAC was U. S. Rep. Paul Tonko, D-Amsterdam, and Assemblywoman Mary Ellen Walsh, R-Ballston.
“What everybody’s done here is express a real spirit of community and a sense of love for our children,” said Tonko. “It unites us all in a very humble way, but in a joyful way, and unites us all with the common thread of humanity.”
Walsh said she was honored to participate.
“It’s just so moving to see our community coming together and doing something good for the innocent, for the kids whomany times want a toy to help their Christmas get better, but want a coat, want that kind of warmth of family that we feel and that we want to share with them,” Walsh added.
For more information about Capital Region Toys for Tots and how to donate, visit www.toysfortotsalbanyny.com orwww. facebook. com/ capital regiontoys for tots.