Santa to visit Albany fire station as part of Toys for Tots drive
By Carlton Fletcher
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ALBANY — The city of Albany is making good on its partnership with Marine Corps Logistics Base-Albany’s Toys for Tots program by hosting a Monday event that will bring Santa Claus to the city’s Fire Station 1 at 320 N. Jackson St.
Santa Claus will greet kids at the fire station, and Albany Fire Department personnel will give kids a tour of the station, Albany Mayor Bo Dorough said Friday.
“We appreciate so much the Marines at MCLB-Albany taking it upon themselves to make Christmas available for those who are less fortunate,” Dorough said. “I think most people who can don’t mind donating one or two toys to help make it a special season for kids who otherwise might not have anything on Christmas morning.”
Marine Sgt. Paul Alejo, who is heading up the local base’s Toys for Tots program, said partnerships with groups like the city help with the drive to collect toys for the less fortunate.
“We appreciate all the donations that have been made so far by the community,” Alejo, who has been with the Corps for 17 years, said. “We certainly want to encourage anyone who wants to give to this program to do so by Dec. 11, our cut-off date. But we also would like to encourage others in the community to volunteer to sort and pass out the toys.
“We’ve expanded the days of delivering the toys to Dec. 15-21 so that, hopefully, potential volunteers can find time in their busy schedules to help out.”
Alejo said there has been a significant increase in children signing up to receive toys from the Toys for Tots program.
“Last year, we had 2,200 applications,” he said. “By the sign-up date of Dec. 1 this year, we’ve had 3,700 sign up to receive toys.”
Santa Claus will be at Fire Station 1 from 4-6 p.m. Monday.
“We got started late this year, but we’ve had some excellent partnerships that have helped us with donations,” Alejo said. “By all means, we encourage those who have not given to reach out to one of the collection stations by the 11th. We’ll accept toy donations — we’re running short of bikes this year — and we’ll accept monetary donations as well.”
Anyone interested in volunteering for toy sorting and distribution may go to the Albany Toys for Tots web site and fill out information for volunteering. Alejo said he will reach out to volunteers who sign up on the web site.
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