By Bob Strohm
bstrohm@wbcowqel.com
Many needy kids from the area will have a Merry Christmas this year thanks to the efforts of the Bucyrus Fire Department as well as numerous caring individuals.
In its sixth year, the Bucyrus Fire Department’s toy drive has been like that of the Grinch’s heart at the end of the Dr. Seuss classic in that it has grown and grown. While in year’s past the fire department has placed the donated toys on multiple tables, this year the donated toys went into the back of a trailer, where they will then be delivered by Santa’s helpers to Jobs and Family Services to then be distributed to those in need.
Firefighter Kevin Phillips, who led the organizational duties of the toy drive this year, was thankful to those who came out and donated.
“We can’t thank them enough, we really appreciate what they are doing, and we are trying to do something good, and we need their help, and it is just working out really good,” Phillips said.
The Mansfield St. station was converted into a drive-through for the event, which lasted from 9 a.m. to 12 p.m. Saturday. As the donators drove through the station, firefighters would accept the donation and place it into the trailer, handing a candy cane to the donator and wishing them a Merry Christmas prior to the car exiting through the front of the station.
Setting up for a remote during the toy drive was North Central Ohio Media Group’s Will 
Beard, who also delivered a van full of toys to the department. Beard commented about the donation.
“We have been collecting toys all year long through a company out of Illinois. They send us toys and we record commercials for them, and help promote their toys and gifts,” Beard said. “We managed to stockpile all these toys this year and bring them over to the firehouse. I think I broke Gary’s (Ogle) back, but they were very appreciative to see us roll in and unload the van.
“It depends on the powers that be, but I would love to do what we do on WBCO with what we do with WQEL, and maybe double up what we do with the toy drive. It would be great,” Beard added.
Donations weren’t just limited to toys as many people coming through the station also donated money as well as food. Don Pollock of Crawford County Custom Classics donated a $100 check on behalf of the car club.
“With the money we raise with our cruise and so on, we really like to give that money back to the community, and in particular back to the children of the community, so this is a great application for that,” Pollock said.
As the drive wrapped up, Phillips added that food stuffs would be divided up and sent to local food pantries as well as donated to the Gatlinburg, Tennessee fire victims.