BILOXI, Miss. -- Firefighters from New York City shopped 'til they dropped Thursday, filling a Penske rental truck with toys they purchased to give to Coast kids Saturday.
About 40 FDNY firefighters will visit with children from Head Start programs in Jackson, Harrison and Hancock counties today, then they'll be on hand for the annual Mississippi Santa toy giveaway Saturday morning.
Usually the men bring several truckloads of toys with them from New York, but this year those toys will go to children in their home state that were effected by Hurricane Sandy.
The FDNY crews originally cancelled their trip south this year. Then Capt. Michelle Crowley with the Biloxi Fire Department led a toy drive on the Coast and invited the firefighters to make the trip to South Mississippi, their 10th since they came bringing supplies after Hurricane Katrina.
They were at the Wal-Mart Supercenter in Biloxi on Thursday, buying $12,000 worth of toys, she said. The money came from cash donations they'd brought with them.
The toys will be distributed between 9 a.m. and noon at the following locations:
n Central Elementary School, 1043 Pass Road, Gulfport
n Nativity BVM Elementary School, 1046 Beach Blvd., Biloxi
n East Jackson County Services Complex, 5343 Jefferson St., Moss Point
There is a limited amount of toys available at each location. Children will be escorted through the display area and will be allowed to pick out one toy, Crowley said.
Toys for Hancock County children will be organized through Hope Haven and the Angel Tree Program, she said.
Copyright 2012 - The Sun Herald
McClatchy-Tribune News Service
