Baker Fire and Police Departments, as well as the Baker Rotary Club, participated in the annual Rides for Toys event Dec. 12 - 14. Front, from left: Capt. Tony Smith, Operator Jonathan Dunaway, Firefighter Andrew Roberts, Operator Stephen Martinez, PIO Howard Ward, Chief Training Officer Jody Crosby and Dist. Chief Mark Adams. Back, from left, are: Mayor Harold Rideau, Walmart representative Charlotte Thomas, Baker Police Chief Mike Knaps and Baker Fire Chief Danny Edwards. (PHOTO/Stacy Gill)
In its fourth year, Rides for Toys paired the departments of Baker Fire and Police and had firefighters and officers exchanging rides in their firetrucks and D.A.R.E. vehicles for new, unwrapped toys donated by citizens.
"The Baker Rotary Club has identified homes and families in need within the City of Baker," said Howard Ward, Public Information Office with the BFD. "We were just the avenue by which the toys were secured."
Once the families were contacted, the toys were delivered by Rotarians just in time for Christmas.
"This is by far the best year we've ever had and the best turn out from the Baker community," said Howard Ward, Baker Fire Department's public information officer. "We collected nearly 500 toys in three nights. We couldn't be more pleased, and we hope to fulfill the needs of many families in Baker."
Both Edwards and Ward say the success of this year's event would not have been possible without Tim Arceneaux, the president of Needy of Greater Baton Rouge. Arceneaux donated a large number of the toys. "He really came through for us," said Chief Edwards.
The event was held from 5 - 9 p.m. each night Dec. 12 - 14 in the Baker Walmart parking lot at the intersection of Groom and Plank Roads.
Post a Comment