Jon Hamilton
In 1996, Jon Hamilton had just started at the Upper Arlington Fire Department.
Fire Chief Jeff Young
Wanting to find his niche in the department, he decided to become involved with Firefighters 4 Kids, a toy collection drive for Franklin County whose families can’t afford to put presents under the Christmas tree.
Twenty years later, and after a brief hiatus, Firefighters 4 Kids looks to continue to provide holiday cheer to those less fortunate.
Hamilton, who began to lead the event for the UAFD in 1998, says that the idea of a family opening presents around a tree on Christmas morning is something the toy drive strives to accomplish.
“We all were kids once … and excited for that one toy,” Hamilton says. “(This) lets kids have the special Christmas morning to get something from Santa Claus.”
Firefighters 4 Kids was started in 1977 by firefighter Mike Mullins after he saw how many families in the Columbus area struggled to provide a Christmas for their children. The toy drive has now spread to fire stations all across central Ohio.
The fire department asks for new, unwrapped toys for newborns up through teenagers.
“There’s no toy we will turn away,” Fire Chief Jeff Young says.
The UAFD took a few years off from the toy drive when NBC-4, the toy drive’s media outlet, started its own toy drive.
The department then decided to get involved in Firefighters 4 Kids again in order to make it more local for the Upper Arlington community. Additionally, the department wanted to increase the number of toys available to children.
“(The number of toys) hasn’t been seriously lacking, but more always helps,” Hamilton says. “It’s also a lot of fun.”
This year, the fire department is holding a drive-through event on Dec. 17, at which people can drive to the firehouse and put toys in boxes and bins specific to each toy. The drive-through is intended to spur more gift-giving, will be very festive and is an opportunity for families to give and have a good feeling, says Hamilton.
Though no specific memories of the event stand out, to Hamilton, he says, it means more when children bring in toys they would probably love to have.
“It’s pretty touching to see children come in and give toys,” Hamilton says. “It’s special when the whole family is involved.”
Toys are collected from all sorts of groups, including families, office parties and individuals. Individuals have even filled up entire minivans with thousands of dollars of toys. They do this anonymously, solely for the kids.
The drive is a great opportunity for the community to be charitable, Young says.
“There are lots of kids below the poverty line, and this helps kids enjoy the holidays,” he says.
Gifts can be dropped off at the Upper Arlington Fire Station until Christmas Eve.
For more information, visit www.firefighters4kids.com.
Zachary Konno is a contributing writer. Feedback welcome at hbealer@cityscenecolumbus.com.
