Spreaders of holiday cheer helped Richland County Emergency Medical Services (EMS) deliver on its goal of filling four ambulances with toys and gifts for children served by the County’s Court Appointed Special Advocates. (CASA)
This is the second year for the “Stuff an Ambulance” toy drive.
Residents, County employees and local businesses – including major donations from Two Notch Road Animal Clinic and The Piedmont Reproductive Endocrinology Group – contributed to the effort that culminated Friday. That’s when Santa Claus joined EMS personnel to ferry the gifts from the EMS headquarters on Laurens Street to CASA on Main Street where CASA employees and volunteers were waiting to receive the items and begin the process of distributing the gifts to children in need.
More than 400 items were donated, to include among other things:
- 31 bicycles and more than 20 bicycle helmets
- Footballs
- Blankets
- Children’s books
- Dolls and action figures
- Toy cars
- Stuffed animals
- Coloring books
- Clothing (including socks, gloves and hats)
- Book bags
“This year was a huge success,” said EMS Captain Winta Adams. “We thank everyone for their help!”