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<\/figure>\n\n\n\nBird said multiple businesses in the community donate thousands of dollars and truckloads of toys and bikes. And regular people also play a huge part in the toy drive\u2019s success. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cWhen we put the word out that we\u2019re getting ramped up and getting ready to go, the phone here at the fire department rings constantly with people wanting to know how they can help or what they can do,\u201d Bird said. \u201cThere\u2019s always somebody knocking on the door wanting to donate toys or money.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n
They haven\u2019t always had too much, however. When Bird first joined the fire department 12 years ago, they typically saw less than 150 kids. Since then, the numbers have been steadily growing. When the number of families signing up increased significantly around 2020, Bird said the department worried about having enough toys. The fire department worked to get the word out better, and people stepped up in a big way. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cWe got lucky when the numbers started getting really high,\u201d Bird said. \u201cThat\u2019s when everybody started stepping up and helping out.\u201d <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Now, the drive is capable of helping several hundred more children each year on top of those who are signed up. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
The whole process begins in October when toys start to be collected and stored in Shelbyville\u2019s National Guard Armory. Bird said many people aren\u2019t sure what to give, so they often get monetary donations as well. Those donations are used to supplement any age group that doesn\u2019t have enough toys or to buy as many bicycles as possible.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n The fire department may spend several months collecting funds and donations, but they manage to sort and bag every toy in only three days. The number is intentional \u2014 those three days correspond to the three 14-man shifts the department runs. <\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cEach shift will go and spend a few hours separating, sorting, and bagging,\u201d Bird said. \u201cSo 100% of the Shelbyville Fire Department contributes to this.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n Bird said everyone looks forward to the toy drive every year because the department gets together and does something that helps the community. The work they do is not only fun, but it gets everyone in the giving spirit. <\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cIt\u2019s a good time of year. It\u2019s a happy time, and it\u2019s a time to give back,\u201d Bird said. \u201cThat\u2019s what I think makes this department great. We love to help the community; we love to give back.\u201d GN <\/strong><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" FOR OVER 20 years, the children of Bedford County have benefited from the work of the Shelbyville Fire Department, not just by the lifesaving work they do every day but by their annual Christmas toy drive. Every department member is involved in the drive, from taking donations to sorting and bagging toys they receive. Each […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":19,"featured_media":21116,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_et_pb_use_builder":"off","_et_pb_old_content":"","_et_gb_content_width":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[6],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-21114","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-feature"],"yoast_head":"\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/goodnewsmags.com\/shelbyville\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/7\/2023\/11\/2-6-1024x683.png\")
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