Annual toy drive revs up

At Costa Mesa Fire Department headquarters, Battalion Chief Fred Seguin ran toward a truck that was driving off in response to an emergency call. Rushing in to the station garage, he passed an empty cardboard box, about three feet high and two feet wide.

It may not look like much, but by Christmas that box, one of hundreds throughout Orange County, will have been filled several times over with all kinds of toys and games for children in need.

Every year there are families that struggle to just meet their regular expenses. They’re not able to afford presents for their children or a tree to place them under.

To help, Southern California fire departments from Orange, Los Angeles, Riverside, San Bernardino and Ventura counties joined forces in 1993 to create the “Spark of Love” toy drive.

Costa Mesa firefighters assembled their donation boxes Saturday for the collection which runs through Dec. 24. Seguin hopes to fill those boxes.

No donations have yet been made, but calls have already been coming in about what to drop off.

“People have called asking if they can donate cash,” Seguin said.

St. Vincent de Paul, the organization that distributes the toys, accepts only unwrapped toys and sports equipment. There is, however, no limit on how much can be donated.

“I’ve seen people come up and donate one thing and we’ve had businesses that donate bags of stuffed animals, 40 to 50 at a time, Seguin said. “It’s whatever your heart feels.”

For Seguin it is about putting a smile on someone’s face. He’s seen plenty of smiles over the years, not just from those on the receiving end.

Seguin has seen donations from a wide spectrum of people -- the young and not-so-young, rich and not-so-rich. When the children stop by to drop off a toy, Seguin said the department allows them to walk through the station and place the toy in the box.

It’s a great way to entertain them -- they get to see the station and meet the firefighters, said Ron Cloe, Costa Mesa fire captain.

“Definitely the reason is just to help the community,” said Jennifer Schulz, Newport Beach Fire Department spokeswoman. “We’re a great resource available to people as a place to drop off toys.”

Newport Beach Fire Department fills up at least 10 trailer loads ever year, Schulz said. “I think our community is very generous.” Each year, Cloe said the amount of gifts residents bring for the toy drive is amazing.

“People’s generosity around the holidays is unsurpassed, especially as it gets closer to Christmas,” Cloe said.

Almost everyone involved agrees that during the last two weeks of collections, things really pick up. Once they get their family shopping situated, people see what they can give to charity, said Seguin.

But the best feeling comes at the end, when firefighters get to watch gift recipients open up a brand new doll, or ride their first bicycle.

“It’s nothing like being able to see that look on a kid’s face,” Cloe said. “They may have had a real tough year, mom and dad may be out of a job, or their situation is not so good. A toy or two can make the difference for them.”

There is a box waiting to be filled at every one of the six fire stations in Costa Mesa. If you cannot drop off at one station because they are out on a call, just stop by another, Seguin said.

Eight stations in Newport Beach also hold donation boxes. To get more information, call the Newport Beach Fire Department at (949) 644-3383 and Costa Mesa Fire Department at (714) 754-5106.