Left to Right: Anne McIntyre, Business Director, San Francisco Bar Pilots; Joseph Long, President, San Francisco Bar Pilots; Lieutenant Jennifer Schmid, Oakland Firefighter and Former President of the Board of Pilot Commissioners; Joanne Hayes-White, San Francisco Fire Chief (Ret.)
Largest toy drive in the country prepares to provide new bikes to families across San Francisco
With 31,000 families expected to pick up gifts this year, the Local 798 San Francisco Firefighters Toy Program is one of the largest in the country. This success is bolstered by strong community partnerships, including the one with the San Francisco Bar Pilots.
The two organizations joined forces exactly 20 years ago, when the Bar Pilots became only one of two San Francisco organizations to provide bikes as part of the annual toy drive. This year, more than 100 children will bring brand new bikes home for Christmas.
“Starting in November, we give out 200 toys every day,” said Sally Casazza, chairperson of the San Francisco Firefighters Toy Program. “In December, children write letters to our firefighters for the chance to bring home a bike of their own. What this brings to San Francisco families is just amazing.”
This year, the Bar Pilots raised nearly $14,000 for the program, which included 123 bikes, a room full of toys, and a $2,000 check.
“We’re so grateful for our partnership with the Bar Pilots,” Casazza added. “The bike program wouldn’t be possible without them.”
On the eve of their 170th anniversary in San Francisco, the Bar Pilots are always looking for ways to support the community.
“The toy drive is our favorite time of year,” said Captain Joseph Long, president of the San Francisco Bar Pilots. “We’re always so happy to support the Firefighters Toy Program each holiday season. And who knows – maybe someday, one of the kids who picks up a bike will become a pilot!”
San Francisco firefighters and volunteers pick up bikes from the San Francisco Bar Pilots headquarters for the annual firefighter toy drive.
About the San Francisco Bar Pilots
For 170 years, the San Francisco Bar Pilots have been navigating the world’s largest ships through some of North America’s most difficult waterways. These state and federally-licensed master mariners are highly-specialized ship captains who rely on navigational experience, ship-handling skills, and local knowledge to transport more than $1.2 billion in goods to and from 200 Bay Area ports and maritime facilities every day. This critical service protects more than 1,000 miles of fragile coastline and 90% of the state’s marshlands. Learn more at www.sfbarpilots.com.
About the San Francisco Firefighters Toy Drive
The San Francisco Firefighters Toy Program is the city’s largest and the nation’s oldest program of its kind. Since 1949, it has evolved from a few firefighters repairing broken toys and bikes for 15 families to 300 firefighters and friends volunteering their time to distribute over 200,000 toys to more than 40,000 disadvantaged children in 2018. Besides helping individual families in need, the Toy Program serves many community organizations, including shelters for abused women and children, inner-city schools, children’s cancer wards, and pediatric AIDS units. We also respond on a year round basis to displaced children who become victims of fires, floods and other such disasters. Learn more at http://sffirefighterstoys.org/.
