South Salem Fire Department, LVAC team up for record toy drive

SOUTH SALEM, N.Y. - The South Salem Fire Department and the Lewisboro Volunteer Ambulance Corps once again proved the strength of community collaboration with their annual Toys for Tots drive, which wrapped up in December as one of the largest collections in northern Westchester.

The combined effort resulted in the most successful drive to date, with volunteers filling a total of 31 boxes and 19 large bags of toys for the Marine Corps Reserve’s Toys for Tots program.

On pickup day, U.S. Marines arrived to collect the donations, joined by members of the South Salem Fire Department and LVAC, along with their family members. The annual collection has become a December tradition for the departments and the community they serve.

Among the most heartwarming moments of this year’s drive was the contribution from Jason Blair and his children, Emily, 10, and Ben, 8. Using their allowance — which was matched by their father — the siblings went shopping and purchased $400 worth of toys, filling an entire box on their own. The family gave permission for their photos to be shared as part of the story.

Organizers credited the success of the drive to widespread community support and the generosity of numerous local businesses, schools, and organizations that served as toy collection locations.

Those locations included:

Armonk Tennis Club; Bedford Golf and Tennis Club; Bedford Village Fire Department; Churyk Company; Four Winds Hospital; Golden's Bridge Fire Department; Gossett Brothers Nursery; John Jay High School; Katonah-Lewisboro school bus drivers; Kennedy Catholic High School; Lewisboro Police Department; Lewisboro Town House; Lexco Wealth Management; North Salem High School; Northern Westchester Hospital; Salem Golf Club; South Salem Presbyterian Church; St. Mary’s School, Katonah; The Harvey School; and Waccabuc Country Club.

Department members said the annual toy drive is a reflection of the strong partnerships among local first responders and the community, ensuring that children in need have gifts to open during the holiday season.