The Jessamine Journal: Nicholasville, Kentucky

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NFD kicks off annual toy drive
Mike Moore
mmoore@jessaminejournal.com
October 21, 2009

The annual Nicholasville Firefighter Toy Drive will kick off Friday with the Pennies for Presents program at Walmart, Kroger on South Main Street, Kroger in Brannon Crossing and Fitch’s IGA in Wilmore.

This year’s need is even greater than previous years, according to Battalion Chief Bob Carpenter.

“The demand this year is what we’re concerned about,” he said. “Some of the programs within the county that did the same types of things that we do have been depleted. (So) we’re figuring on an additional 400 to 500 kids.”

Last year, the fire department made Christmas brighter for more than 800 Jessamine County children. This year, the total is expected to reach close to 1,200.

The annual toy drive has experienced rapid growth in the eight years its been going on.

“We grew from about 500 kids in ‘07 to in excess of 800 kids in ‘08,” Carpenter said. “We were fortunate enough to begin the season of 2008 with reserve money; we had about $4,500 put back, which helped out tremendously. If we had not had that, we would have not been able to make it last year.”

Firefighters will be out Friday from 5 p.m. to 8 p.m. collecting pennies for the toy drive. Carpenter said there is no such reserve money this year, and the need will be greater, so the department is trying to get a head start.

In addition to penny donations, Carpenter said retailers like Walmart have always come through in a big way, and he is hoping for the same this year.

“I think our typical business donation will also come through this year,” he said. “In speaking with Walmart, we were fortunate enough last year that they were able to send out some representatives to our distribution center. I think that up until that point, they didn’t realize the need, and they expressed interest in raising their contributions to the program this year.”

In addition to the penny program the fire department will begin collecting donations of new toys and monetary donations, in early November.

Toy drop-off points will be city fire station No. 1, located at 510 N. Main St.; city fire station No. 2, located at 1022 S. Main St.; city fire station No. 3, located at 1031 Elizabeth St.; and The Jessamine Journal, located at 507 N. Main St.

Anyone wishing to donate money can send checks to the Nicholasville Firefighter Toy Drive, 1022 S. Main St., Nicholasville, 40356, or call the fire department at 885-5505 for more information.

The Nicholasville Firefighters Toy Drive will be held on Dec. 19 at the new East Jessamine Middle School gymnasium.

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