Staff Writer
Members of the Caribou Volunteer Fire and Ambulance Department have been very busy lately —actually since early August, not only with their fire fighting and ambulance duties but collecting and wrapping gifts for their annual Toys Project.
Aroostook Republican Photos/ Barbara Scott
“This project was started during the late 1940s,” said Steve Corbin, chairman of the Toys Project, “and I’ve been chairman for the past 15-16 years, before me it was the late Owen Jackson.”
The annual project, led by fire and ambulance volunteers, allows a great number of area children to enjoy a Christmas surprise. During the year, with money raised by fund-raisers such as the recent, ‘Marko the Magician,’ along with donations from the Caribou VFW Post, private and community donations and contributions donated from a variety of motorcycle clubs including the United Bikers and the Aroostook Caribou Harley Owner’s Group, the fire and ambulance volunteers are able to purchase, wrap and distribute an impressive sleigh full of toys just before Christmas.
“We deliver the toys, all wrapped and tagged for girl/boy and the appropriate age, the Saturday before Christmas Eve,” said Corbin, “this way, our volunteers are able to spend Christmas Eve at home with their own families.”
“We will begin our Christmas deliveries this year, Saturday morning, Dec. 20.,” he added.
Corbin said that the Toys Project is becoming more community based each year. “Every year now, we have more local groups and individuals approaching us to see how they can become involved with the project which really is a big plus for everyone concerned,” he stated. “This week we had some Caribou High School students request to come and help us on one of our wrapping nights. The students not only are a big, help, but the time they spend here assisting with the program, has been approved by the high school to be counted as part of the students’ necessary community service hours, which each must complete by graduation.”
“We also had helpers from the Cadet Girl Scouts Troop 016,” added Corbin,” it’s a big job but it’s amazing how everyone helping becomes a kid again.”
“We are able to distributed gifts to approximately 325 children,” said Corbin, “and of course that number often increases from day to day.” Children from the area covered by the Caribou Fire and Ambulance Department are the recipients of the generous Christmas gifts. This area includes Caribou, New Sweden, Stockholm, Woodland, Perham and Connor. The Toy Project successfully works in coordination with the United Way program, so there is no duplication regarding the families that each group helps.
With a mountain of gifts already wrapped, the volunteers from the Caribou Fire and Ambulance Department are far from completing their jobs. “We will be wrapping gifts, two more Wednesday evenings,” said Corbin, “and of course we will gladly accept donations right up until the end.”
Anyone wishing to donate an un-wrapped toy (preferable new, appropriate for ages 0-14), to help ensure all community children are able to share in the magic of Christmas, may do so by dropping the donations off anytime at the Caribou Fire and Ambulance Department on High Street.
