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Date: 12/19/2023
HUNTINGTON — The Huntington Fire Department hosted a successful toy drive at its open house on Saturday, Dec. 16 from 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. The toys will be distributed to hilltown families through It Takes a Village. Firefighters slowed down traffic, as Jahala Dufort from It Takes a Village waved over residents to drop off their gifts.
The collection was boosted by the combined efforts of Project 351 leaders and ambassadors from Gateway Regional, Hampshire Regional and Westfield high schools.
Gateway senior Reeghan Morawiec, a regional leader for the statewide community service group, said she has been involved in Project 351 since 8th grade, when new ambassadors are selected.
Morawiec was joined in the toy drive for hilltown families by WHS senior Wunnyuriti Ziblim and Hampshire Regional juniors Anna Shadrick and Olivia Manganelli, who is also a Western Mass. regional leader. The students collected toys at their schools, in their communities and through a wish list on Amazon.
The students all said they have stayed involved beyond middle school because of the sense of community in the program. “It’s a very accepting community, very positive. I was motivated to stay on, you get to meet people from all across the state,” said Ziblim.
Morawiec added, “I met people who will be my friends for the rest of our lives.”
Program Director for It Takes a Village Lisa Goding said, “We are super thankful for Project 351 for collecting so many toys for hilltowns families.”
It Takes a Village offers programs and support groups for families of young children in the hilltowns, and runs the Village Closet donation center and diaper bank at 2 East Main St. in Huntington. Toy drives were also hosted by the Chester-Blandford, Ashfield and Goshen Police Departments and the Dollar General in Russell.
Goding said the Village Closet will distribute the toy donations to hilltown families by appointment this week. On Thursday, Dec. 22, it will open from 1 to 7 p.m. to all hilltown families, no appointment needed. On Friday, Dec. 23, if there are any toys remaining, the donation center will be open to the general public from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. for last minute gifts.
The Village Closet will close Friday evening, Dec. 23 through Jan 1, and will reopen Jan. 2, 5 to 7 p.m.
Huntington Fire Chief Josh Ellinger said the department was happy to support the toy drive and help out families in the community. He said all the members of the department contributed toys and cash to the drive. Later in the day, the Fire Department hosted Santa in the Parade of Lights, which started at 4 p.m. at the town gazebo, and carried Santa on the brightly lit up fire engines with sirens blaring throughout the town.
“Any chance to help out – It Takes a Village was here for me when my kids were born,” Ellinger said.