- Windsor Fire & Rescue Services headquarters receive ultimate stocking stuffer as FCA Windsor Assembly Plant employees deliver several Dodge Grand Caravan and Chrysler Town & Country minivans overfilled with new toys valued at nearly $20,000 for “Sparky’s Toy Drive”
- Sparky’s Toy Drive provides toys to over 3,000 kids from roughly 1,200 families in Windsor-Essex County annually
- Windsor Assembly Plant employee toy drive campaign marks 13th year of giving largest campaign of its kind in Windsor-Essex
Residents of Windsor-Essex County may have had to take a double look today if they thought they saw Santa Claus and his reindeer parading hundreds of toys down city streets. The Windsor Fire Department was thrilled to have its downtown Windsor headquarters overflow with a special delivery from the FCA Windsor Assembly Plant for the Windsor Firefighters’ Annual “Sparky’s Toy Drive.”
A record-setting donation of brand new toys valued over $19,400 by plant employees arrived at the fire station in several Dodge Grand Caravan and Chrysler Town & Country minivans decorated with the holiday spirit in mind. Following their delivery, they will then be distributed across the local area providing a happy holiday season for thousands young boys and girls from families demonstrating financial need.
“Year-after-year the employees from the FCA Windsor Assembly Plant have surpassed our highest expectations and this year is no different as we are ever-grateful for this special delivery of donated toys to our headquarters today,” said Sean Costello, Sparky’s Toy Drive Coordinator, Windsor Fire Department. “Sparky’s Toy Drive would not have the same impact helping those families in need across Windsor-Essex without their support. We sincerely thank them for their ongoing generosity as the city’s largest contributor and helping make the holidays happy for thousands of children in our area.”
In 13 years of donations, over 50 minivans full of toys valued at nearly $200,000 have been donated by Windsor Assembly Plant employees, which have benefited roughly 39,000 children that otherwise wouldn’t have gifts for the holidays. Once again, this year’s donation from Windsor Assembly Plant employees towards Sparky’s Toy Drive represents the largest campaign of its kind in the city.
Gathered outside the fire station, members of the Windsor Fire Department, including “Sparky the Fire Dog,” welcomed Windsor Assembly Plant management and Unifor local 444 members with the hundreds of toys loaded in the minivans parked outside and inside the fire truck bay doors. In a parade fashion, the minivans then left the fire station destined to the “Sparky’s Toy Drive,” collection centre. In the upcoming days ahead, volunteers from the Windsor Assembly Plant will join others helping sort and deliver to children throughout the community.
“Giving back to Windsor-Essex County year-round has been a staple of the Windsor Assembly Plant employees and I’m continually proud of the generous time, effort and money they have donated towards Sparky’s Toy Drive,” said Mike Brieda, Plant Manager, FCA Windsor Assembly Plant. “The Windsor Firefighters work extremely hard to ensure that local children have the merriest of holidays. We are thrilled to play a prominent role in their campaign and will continue to work with them to sort and deliver the toys for the 13th consecutive year.”
The public is encouraged to help join the cause. New, unopened toys and cash donations can be dropped off at any Windsor fire station throughout the city between now and December 23rd.
