Eastside Fire & Rescue has officially wrapped up its 2018 toy, food, and clothing drives – giving campaigns that directly benefits Hopelink, the Issaquah Food and Clothing Bank and the Snoqualmie Valley Food Bank.
EF&R said because of the generosity of local businesses and community members, firefighters collected over 300 totes, two huge rolling bins full of toys, clothing, and over 15,000 pounds of nonperishable food. Separately, over 1,500 individual toys were donated by the community during EF&R Reindeer Engine drives that rolled through Eastside neighborhoods.
The Reindeer Engine is a special tradition at Eastside Fire & Rescue, visiting neighborhoods, holiday events and partnering with agencies hosting food and toy drives. The reindeer engine announces and follows a route in local cities, collecting toys along the way.
In addition to all the toys and food donated, EF&R also received over $2,000 cash donations that will be used to assist local families during this holiday season.
Via press release EF&R said ‘these programs are only successful due to the support of the community. EF&R would like to thank everyone for their donations, especially Fred Meyer, University House, SpringHills Suites Issaquah, and PetSmart Sammamish.”
Eastside Fire & Rescue’s Reindeer Engine will return in 2019 and firefighters say they look forward it.
