Fifty-eight years ago, in 1949, a small group of San Francisco firefighters volunteered to repair broken toys and bikes so that the children of 15 needy families could have toys under their Christmas trees that year. What began so humbly has grown into a program that distributes more than 200,000 toys to more than 40,000 disadvantaged children each year. Besides serving individual families — and more than 300 apply each day once the drive starts — the program distributes toys anywhere underprivileged children need some holiday cheer: homeless shelters, battered women’s shelters, inner-city schools, and hospital wards.
The toy program is run entirely by volunteers and collection barrels are located in firehouses, businesses, and organizations around the city. There are two barrels at Fort Mason Center this year — one in the main office in Building A and the other at the Guardsmen Tree Lot in the Festival Pavilion. New, unwrapped toys can be dropped off at either location between 9am and 8pm daily from November 27 through December 16. For more information call (415) 777-0440 or visit www.sffdtoys.com.
SAN FRANCISCO FIREFIGHTER'S TOY PROGRAM 
