Ridgefield school bus drivers, sponsored by the Connecticut Cruise News and partnered with Party Depot, are collecting toys and non-perishable food items for needy families in the area.
“People call up going through tough times and say that they have a family with three or four kids who won’t be receiving any gifts and that they will be scrapping for food to eat on Christmas because a spouse has walked out on them or because one of the parents, and in some cases it’s both, has just lost their job and they can’t afford to buy gifts,” said Dan Finn, a Ridgefield bus driver and town resident since 1998.
“Bus drivers who work in town during the week are so inspired by these stories that they come back from out of town to volunteer their weekends so we can collect enough toys and food to fill an entire school bus.”
Mr. Finn has been working with Don Clady, the publisher of Connecticut Cruise News, since 2001 and will be conducting his 12th annual “Fill the Bus with Joy” donation drive in front of Party Depot on Danbury Road this Saturday, Dec. 21, from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Mr. Finn said a lot of the parents of the families being helped struggle to pay large medical bills and monthly heat and electric bills, which renders them incapable of giving anything to their kids on a day where “every kid should have a gift.”
He added that people in Ridgefield have been touched by these stories as well as the drivers, and in return have been “off the hook helpful.”
“The drivers all kick in and help a lot, but its the kids and their parents that really make a huge difference,” he said. “It’s amazing to see the children come out and donate goods to help those kids that won’t have a Christmas.
“It brings a whole new meaning to our cause and really touches a lot of people,” he said. “Sometimes we’re able to give a family enough food to last them a whole week.”
Mr. Finn said that “Fill the Bus with Joy” will also be accepting donations at Barlow Mountain Elementary School and Scotts Ridge Middle School throughout the week and that people could also drop off goods at the bus depot at 57 South Street.
He said that one area in particular he asks donors to help address is gifts for teens up to the age of 16.
“The older kids tend to get overlooked sometimes, but it’s our goal to make sure that every member of the family has something they can open on Christmas,” Mr. Finn explained.
He added Santa will join the bus drivers all day Saturday to help attract people into the parking lot and learn more about the cause.
Mr. Finn said that anyone with questions can call the bus company at 203-431-2924.