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Community Corner

Campbell Fire Station Hosts Community Toy Program

Volunteers collect, disperse more than 8,000 toys to Campbell needy families.

Almost 200 vounteers showed up to the Campbell Fire Station on W. Sunnyoaks Avenue Saturday morning to wrap and distribute toys for needy local families as part of the Santa Clara County Fire Department's .

According to County Firefighter Engineer and Toy Program Coordinator Jeff Brown, the department collected more than 8,000 toys for 464 local families and 1,350 children this year, 400 more than the program has ever seen.

Each child got a toy, arts and craft object, book and toothbrush while each family received a sports ball, board game and smoke alarm.

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Brown, who spent his first year as the head of the program, said the department collected toys by putting collection bins in front of several of the district's 17 stations, and partnered with downtown Campbell businesses who collected toys from customers.

The department also hosted a fundraiser on Dec. 1 with the Campbell Chamber of Commerce to raise funds for the program at the Sonoma Chicken Coop in downtown Campbell.

Find out what's happening in Campbellwith free, real-time updates from Patch.

According to Brown, who has been with County Fire for 11 years, the Community Toy Program started in 1984 when the city of Campbell had its own fire department.

He was satisfied to see a strong turnout of vounteers and is grateful for the help from the department's personnel their families.

"So many people who live in the area came out to help, it was just great to see," said Brown. "People really believe in helping during hard times. These families have parents who have been laid off or make low income."

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