Firefighters help stuff sleigh for area needy

Dozens of area children will have gifts to open on Christmas morning thanks to Lombard firefighters and residents and Yorktown Center customers.

Piles of toys were collected in late November and early December at both Lombard fire stations and the village hall.

Firefighters added to the collection Dec. 13 during their annual toy parade down Main Street.

All the toys then were delivered to Yorktown as part of the mall's debut "Ultimate Stuff the Sleigh" event.

Numerous bags and boxes packed with food and baby items were collected in a giant sleigh for area needy residents.

The Mix radio personality Kevin Koske, dubbed Santa Koz for the occasion, helped celebrate the effort with a live broadcast on WTMX 101.9-FM from the mall during the Saturday afternoon event.

The food later was donated to the Northern Illinois Food Bank, which serves many suburban food pantries.

The toys and baby items went to the Lombard-Villa Park Food Pantry, First Things First in Lombard and the Teen Parent Connection in Glen Ellyn.