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And even though it’s only March, they’re already gearing up for this year’s effort.
“We were overwhelmed by the generosity of our community to help children in need,” said Michael O’Brien, the president of Fair Lawn PBA Local 67. “Our officers, coupled with the civilian dispatchers and members of Fair Lawn Heavy Rescue, spent countless hours unloading the collection site boxes and organizing the toys into storage, as well as spreading the word throughout the community any way they could.
Fair Lawn PBA Local 67 President Michael O’Brien
“Several local business’ served as collection sites for unwrapped new toys. The municipal complex and rescue building also served as collection points,” O’Brien said. “Volunteers manned each building for several hours each week to accommodate people that wished to drop off toys.”
When the time for distribution, members loaded the gifts onto a converted bus driven by Paramus Police Detective James Teehan.
Teehan, who has been a integral part of the Toys for Tots campaign in this area, brought the toys to the Closter Firehouse.
There, they joined more than two dozen area PBAs who helped swell mountains of toys that grea faster than dozens of “Santa Response Team” members could sort them (SEE: PBA Toy Drive could be historic).
Nearly 30 police agencies participated, the most ever. That included police from Orangetown, N.Y., as well as soldiers from the Teaneck Armory, who not only brought gifts but provided a military truck to transport them.
CONTRIBUTED PHOTO
The tragedies of Hurricane Sandy and the Newtown school massacre — which occurred only a week earlier — increased the need and dramatically boosted the contributions.
After being sorted, the toys and other gifts were brought to various destinations, including the Joseph M. Sanzari Children’s Hospital in Hackensack — as well as additional sites in Moonachie and Little Ferry and at the Jersey Shore (SEE: Amid PBA toys, joy, we hold tight to those we love) .
Two days later, a caravan hauled a trove of toys to Newton, Ct., for the families of Sandy Hook Elementary School.
Other toys were sent to local families in need through Fair Lawn Health Department worker Liz Twiggs.
“What an extraordinary experience to bring smiles to kids in need,” O’Brien said.
“This year, we are going to do whatever we can to double our total collection,” O’Brien said. “Our officers are committed to the children. They are our future and we need to collectively work together to brighten their lives.
“To us it’s a toy. To them, it’s the world.”
For more information on this year’s drive, contact O’Brien: FairLawnPBAPresident@gmail.com
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