Fifteenth annual toy collection helps children in need during the holiday season

The Forsyth County Fire Department is asking for residents’ help in making the holiday season brighter for children in need with the fifteenth annual Aerial’s House toy collection.

“Each year the Fire Department personnel look forward to this opportunity to bring a smile to children and it is great to see the community get behind the project every holiday season as well,” Fire Chief Danny Bowman said. “Because of the community’s support, the Aerial House’s toy collection has brought countless children a special holiday season over the years.”

New, unwrapped toys for local children in need, between newborn and 18 years old, may be dropped off now through December 15 at any Forsyth County fire station, the Fire Department Headquarters at 3520 Settingdown Road, or at any of the county’s four library branches.

Starting in December, donations for Aerial’s House may also be dropped off under the Christmas tree in the lobby of the Forsyth County Administration Building, located at 110 East Main Street in Cumming.

“We began the initiative in 2003 following a number of phone calls from local parents asking if the Fire Department could help them with Christmas that year,” said Bowman. “Since then, we have helped provide not just a toy, but a Christmas, to more than 2,000 local children.”

The toy collection gets its name from a piece of equipment which is used by the Fire Department known as an aerial ladder truck.

To receive information regarding the distribution of toys collected through Aerial’s House, call The Place of Forsyth County at (770) 887-1098. For any other questions or to make a large donation, please call Firefighter Jeff Lyons at (678) 513-5899.