Photo courtesy of Hoover Fire Department
Hundreds of toys were loaded onto this rental truck for distribution to children of active duty members of the Army National Guard and Air National Guard in a previous year. The Cahaba Valley, Hoover, North Shelby and Rocky Ridge fire departments worked together to collect the toys.
The Hoover Fire Department once again has launched its annual drive to collect toys to be distributed to children of deployed soldiers at Christmas.
People can bring unwrapped toys to any Hoover fire station until a few days before Christmas, fire Division Chief Duane Prater said. If firefighters are out on a call and the station is empty, the toys can be left under a covered area at the station, he said. Deliveries can be made any time, but the preference is for deliveries between 6 a.m. and 10 p.m., he said.
The toy drive is coordinated by the Alabama National Guard Foundation, and the toys are delivered on Christmas Eve to children of active duty members of the Army National Guard and Air National Guard.
The Hoover Fire Department has participated in the toy drive for 20 or more years alongside other departments such as the North Shelby and Rocky Ridge fire departments.
