GEORGETOWN — The Georgetown Fire Department collected 4,191 toys during its 28th annual Santa Tour, making the department the largest contributor of toys to the Marine Corps Toys for Tots Program in Essex County, according to Chief Matt McKay.
Santa Claus and firefighters spent more than 11 hours touring the community during the 28th annual Santa Tour on Sunday, Dec. 3, starting at 10:30 a.m. and visiting streets around town until after 9:30 p.m.
During the tour, volunteers followed Santa around town collecting new, unwrapped toys for the Toys for Tots program.
The 4,191 toys collected are among the most ever collected by the Georgetown Fire Department, and they make the department the largest contributor of toys in Essex County this year. With about 8,400 residents in approximately 3,200 households in the community, the toy drive brought in nearly one toy for every two residents, and more than one toy per household in Georgetown this year.
Among the donations were 61 brand new bicycles, including more than 50 from just one family — the Donahue family, who host a Christmas party and donate bicycles every year.
“I want to thank our community members for their extreme generosity and Christmas spirit,” said Chief McKay. “Our Santa Tour is in its 28th year and it continues to be a massive success due to the kind hearts of those in the Georgetown community. Children in need will benefit from this generosity, and it will help them have a Merry Christmas.”
