Long Beach Firefighters and Police collecting toys for those in need, donations at all-time low

Santa will be making his usual rounds through the city this weekend with his sleigh perched high atop a Long Beach firetruck.

But instead of toys, the big man might have to pass out IOUs.

That's because donations to the Long Beach Fire Department's Spark of Love toy drive are at an all-time low, fire department officials said.

It's so bad this year, said program coordinator and firefighter Will Nash, that for the first time in anyone's memory the fire department has had to tell some families they may not be able to help.

"I am astounded, as always, by the generosity of the people in this city," Nash said Wednesday. "But for the first time, at least since I've been doing this, we've had to tell some people that we'll do what we can, but we can't guarantee we'll have enough."

As Nash spoke, an all volunteer staff bustled around him packing toys for kids ranging from infants to teens into large cardboard boxes and plastic bags.

They pulled the items from shelves in a small warehouse at the back of the city's Parks, Recreation and Marine offices on Studebaker Road, just south of Spring Street.

The warehouse is about a quarter of the size of the warehouse the program used to fill on the Westside in previous years.

This year marks the 17th year the LBFD has participated in the Spark of Love campaign, and this year's drive is down by record numbers, Nash said.

The program needs all types of gifts, including toys for tots, games, books and gift cards.

Normally the warehouse shelves are overflowing with dolls, trucks, bikes and stuffed bears this far into December, volunteers said. This year, there are shelves that lay bare; a sad first.

The program is especially short of gifts suitable for girls 10 to 12 years old and presents for teen boys and girls, said volunteer Tracey Roman.

Those ages are tough, although a gift card, items for bedrooms and makeup or hair and body products are always appreciated, she said.

Roman has volunteered with the program for the past several years and took her children with her last year when the fire department helped Santa pass out toys on their "Code 3" run.

That's when Santa's reindeer get a break and let the Long Beach Fire Department cart the chubby guy around with the help of fire department staff and a Long Beach Police Department escort.

"I wanted them to see how excited the kids are to get just one toy," Roman said. "It really makes you feel good and reminds you how lucky you are."

Roman was joined by several other dedicated volunteers Wednesday, including members of the Long Beach Fire Department's ambassador program, the Long Beach Police Department's senior volunteer group and city staffers working on their own time.

The Spark of Love program is a good one because you know the items donated will go to truly needy families, they assured.

"With the fire department you know you're safe," Nash promised.

That's because the LBFD vets all the people who receive the gift packages, either directly or through one of the reputable organizations they work with, he explained.

That includes local churches, the YMCA and the Long Beach Unified School District.

Each year, the fire department provides gifts for deserving children and their families among those groups, as well as people they come across during their duties.

Firefighters also go through the list of families and choose the neediest cases who are treated to a whole compliment of presents at a party hosted by the LBFD and Aquarium of the Pacific, which is scheduled for Wednesday, Dec. 23 this year.

Other gift packages will be delivered by Santa and the firefighters Sunday, and Nash and the volunteers note they always need extra toys to take to hand out to neighborhood children who come out in droves when they see the man in the red suit sailing by.

The Spark of Love campaign will continue to gather gift donations through Christmas Eve with the final gifts given out on Christmas Day via the Salvation Army's annual brunch, Nash said.

"We're going to get by, we'll make it happen," he vowed. "But like everyone else, we're having to make do with whatever we have this year."