Morristown Firefighter Chris Mussner accepts toy donation from Jimmy Cavanaugh of the Iron Bar. Photo by Berit Ollestad
By Berit Ollestad
It’s a big job each year, but someone’s got to do it. Thankfully, Santa has had the Marine Corps for the past 67 years, and all of their elves, to help fill the orders of little boys and girls in and around New Jersey.
Jimmy Cavanaugh, owner of the Iron Bar, wanted to get in on the spirit of giving also. So he contacted the Morristown Fire Department recently and asked if members could swing by, on behalf of the Marines’ Toys for Tots, to pick up a bounty of stuffed animals that were donated by Cavanaugh’s daughter Emily and her friends.
According to Cavanaugh, he has a pretty good aim down at the Boardwalk game arcades and has accumulated quite a number of prizes in recent years that need homes.
“This isn’t the first time we have made a donation. I’ve either lived or done business in Morristown for over 35 years. We have one of the finest police and fire departments in the state. They have always been very professional and civic-minded. I’m happy to know that I am able to contribute toys that will go to kids that might otherwise have had a toy-less Christmas here in Morristown,” said Cavanaugh.
“We are proud of the fact that we help to contribute to the Marines Toys for Tots toy drive each year, it’s just what we do,” said firefighter Chris Mussner.
“The toys we collect are distributed all throughout Northern Jersey. Whenever there is a request for a child in Morristown, the Marines always will try and fill the request with toys that were donated locally. There’s nothing better than knowing boys and girls will be getting the toys they asked for on Christmas.”
The Morristown Fire Department has been involved in Toys for Tots for 10 years. They also quietly visited boys and girls with longterm illnesses, and in emergency rooms, at Morristown Medical Center for many years.
With money from their union local, firefighters purchase toys. And Sparky, the department mascot, visits each child on Christmas Eve to bring smiles and holiday cheer to children who would rather be anywhere else than in the hospital on Christmas.
There still is time to make a difference in a child’s life this holiday. The fire department still is accepting donations of new un-wrapped toys. You can drop them off at the fire station, at 161 Speedwell Ave. Or call 973-292-6605 or Firefighter Nick Prizzi at 973-769-2607 and arrange a pick-up. The greatest need is toys for girls aged of 5-10.
