San Francisco, CA — Mayor London N. Breed, the Department of Child Support Services (SFDCSS), the San Francisco Public Library, and Firefighters Local 798 today hosted the annual Children’s Toy and Book Festival at City Hall. What began as a gesture of holiday cheer for SFDCSS’s program customers 16 years ago has now grown to support more than 1,200 children during the holiday season.

The Festival provides gifts, books, and interactive activities for children 12 and under, as well the opportunity to meet Santa Claus and Clifford the Big Red Dog. Children are invited through San Francisco’s public schools, community-based organizations, and SFDCSS offices.

Participating schools this year included Gordon Lau Elementary, Wu Yee Children’s Services, Jean Parker Elementary, Rosa Parks Elementary, Spring Valley Science Academy, Dr. George Washington Carver Elementary, Visitacion Valley Elementary, Bessie Carmichael Elementary, Dr. Charles Drew Elementary, Dr. William L. Cobb Elementary, Monroe Elementary, Mission Education Center, and John Muir Elementary. Information regarding City services and community resources was also available for parents, guardians, and teachers.

“Every kid deserves to have books at home and a new toy to play with during the holiday season. This time of year is about giving back to the less fortunate and this program is a way to show kids in San Francisco that we care about them and are thinking of them,” said Mayor Breed. “I want to thank the Firefighters, the Department of Child Support Services and the Public Library for their continuing commitment to give back to the community.”

“We are so excited to offer another year of this event to San Francisco’s children,” said Karen M. Roye, Director of the Department of Child Support Services. “It reminds us all that the work we do makes a difference for so many families.”

“Each year, we look forward to joining with our City colleagues in ensuring that everyone in our community gets to experience some holiday cheer and to seeing the beaming faces of the children when they get to pick out their books,” says City Librarian Michael Lambert. “We hope that the sense of joy this event generates inspires children and their families to read together and to create more happy memories with San Francisco Public Library.”

The San Francisco Firefighters Toy Program, run by the San Francisco Firefighters Local 798, 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 over 300 firefighters and friends volunteering their time to distribute toys throughout the year.

“San Francisco Firefighters Local 798 is delighted to continue our partnership with Mayor Breed, the San Francisco Public Library, and Child Support Services to make sure that children in need receive a gift for the holidays,” said Local 798 President Shon Buford. “Each year, the San Francisco Firefighters Toy Program distributes over 200,000 toys to Bay Area children because we believe in giving back to our community and that every child should receive a gift during the holidays.”

Residents interested in helping children through the program can make a donation to the Firefighters Toy Program by calling (415) 777-0440 or by visiting www.sffirefighterstoys.org.

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