HAPPY HOLIDAY
City fire and police departments donate toys to Franklin Community Center’s Holiday Assistance program
SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y. >> Lots of local kids will have a happy holiday this year thanks to a large toy donation made to Franklin Community Center’s Holiday Assistance program by the first responders of the Saratoga Springs Fire and Police Departments.
Following the two Spa City agencies’ recent Holiday Hockey Classic, during which the police department’s Saratoga Springs Police Benevolent Association Finest won 10-3 against the fire department’s Local 343 Bravest, the groups teamed up on Tuesday to present more than 700 donated toys and a check for $1,100 in funds to the folks at Franklin Community Center.
Saratoga Springs Fire Department and Saratoga Springs Police Department representatives delivered the toy donation and giant check to Franklin Community Center on Tuesday morning using a fire truck and two police SUVs that were all packed with toys. Along the route, the fire engine played Christmas music for spectators as the vehicles paraded through downtown Saratoga Springs in the snow
"We enjoy giving back. Between the fire department and police department, we’re always helping out people in emergency situations. This is a way that we can help someone out who’s not in an emergency situation, and spread some holiday cheer." — Firefighter Chris Stewart of the Saratoga Springs Fire Department
on their way to Franklin Community Center’s Franklin Street location.
Each year, the Saratoga Springs-based nonprofit gives holiday assistance to those in need within the Saratoga County community. This season, the organization plans to provide toys for more than 600 area children.
As the Christmas holiday quickly approaches, the fire and police departments’ major donation is greatly appreciated. “This is overwhelming,” said Franklin Community Center’s associate director Jaime Williams while standing in a room filled with toys, noting that all of the items and the monetary contribution will go a long way.
“We are just so grateful for their support and everything that they do to help us with the community,” added Jen Briggs, program coordinator at Franklin Community Center, regarding the Saratoga Springs Fire Department and Saratoga Springs Police Department efforts with the Holiday Assistance program and other initiatives. The first responders of the local fire and police departments are happy to lend a hand for this cause. “We enjoy giving back,” said firefighter Chris Stewart of the Saratoga Springs Fire Department. “Between the fire department and police department, we’re always helping out people in emergency situations. This is a way that we can help someone out who’s not in an emergency situation, and spread some holiday cheer.”
K-9 officer Bill Arpei of the Saratoga Springs Police Department agreed. “It’s just another opportunity for the first responders in our community to give back,” he said, explaining how the Holiday Hockey Classic toy drive and fundraiser started. “We were able to get police and fire teams together, and it’s been successful every year.”
In their second year supporting the Franklin Community Center’s Holiday Assistance program, the agencies met their goal of exceeding 2018’s total of 500 toys, and added the monetary donation as well.
Looking ahead, the departments aim to keep growing the Holiday Hockey Classic effort and continue it as an annual holiday tradition in the future.