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Crime & Safety

All Aboard! Train Picks up Gifts for Needy Kids

Wyckoff Volunteer Fire Department organized the toy collection

A train pulled into the Wyckoff station on Saturday morning but it didn't accept commuters, instead it accepted Toys for Tots.

The organized toy collection sites at the three local firehouses, the and — new this year — the Lion’s Club Christmas tree lot.   

“This is our fifth year participating in the Marine’s Toys for Tots program and our members are committed to this worthwhile campaign,” said Fire Chief Mike Rose.

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The U.S. Marine Corps Reserve Toys for Tots Program collects unwrapped toys to be distributed as Christmas gifts to needy children in the community in which the campaign is conducted. According to John Sobotka of the Military Transport Association, last year’s Toys for Tots campaign collected 11,000 toys and 17 bikes which were distributed to 2,500 children in the Northern part of New Jersey.

Franklin Lakes seventh graders Amy Sun, Nicole Vaccaro and Vaness Jamgochian of Girl Scout Troop 410 organized a collection drive as part of their Silver Award community service project.  

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Troop members formed a line to unload cars full of toys to then reload unto the Toys for Tots train.

Wyckoff was one of seven stops the train made to receive donated toys — including a .

Ramsey parents Carly and Aaron Weiss brought 1 year old daughter Madelyn to the holiday event.   “We come every year to donate a toy and Madelyn just loves to see trains,” said Carly Weiss.

Volunteer Wyckoff firefighters joined members of the Military Transport Association, a collectors club of military vehicles and members of the Volunteer Railroad Association in loading the Toys for Tots train.

"This is a wonderful event for the community of Wyckoff to help the Marine Corps efforts especially at Christmastime,” said Mayor Kevin Rooney. 

Toys collected were brought to the Picatinny Arsenal in Morris County for distribution to children in the Northern New Jersey area.

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