Duluth Fire Department’s 20th Year Of Buying Toys For Children In Need Raises Over $6,200

It's a long time holiday tradition of giving that's perhaps needed even more today.  The Duluth Fire Department recently helped the Salvation Army's Toyland Express - marking 20 years of doing so.

Each year the department collects funds from it's members to buy toys for Northland children in need.  This year the department was able to collect $6,200 in donations which were used to complete local children's Christmas wish lists.

Recently, members of the Duluth Fire Department took the funds that they had collected and went to Target to spend them on the Christmas gifts they plan to donate.  They shared details and pictures from the shopping trip on their social media:

The department rally's around the cause each year.  Duluth Fire Marshal Sandy McComb says:

"For many of us, this is our favorite thing that we do all year.  Our active and retired members donate every year, and with that support, we raise more money for the cause than we did the year before.  This is a terrific way for us to give back to the community and help make the upcoming holiday season a little more special."

What's become an annual holiday tradition for the firefighters got its start as a competition.  In 2001, the Duluth Police Department challenged the Duluth Fire Department to see who could raise more funds for the Salvation Army's Toyland Express toy drive.  Firefighter Matt Swanson lead the Fire Department's efforts to accept the challenge that year.

That original challenge only lasted for one year, but the Duluth Fire Department has continued to raise money to shop for Duluth children ever since.

As part of their collateral that was released in promotion of the charitable toy event, the Duluth Fire Department thanked Target for their role in making it happen with a partnership and a donation.

Here are more pictures from the shopping trip to Target: