Newark Mayor Ras J. Baraka, Public Safety Director Anthony F. Ambrose, Assistant Public Safety Director Raul Malave, Chief of Police Darnell Henry and Chief of Fire Rufus L. Jackson will host a giveaway featuring Newark children, Santa Claus and Sparky the Fire Dog to kick off the distribution of more than 30,000 donated toys at 1 p.m., Monday, December 23rd, 2019 at 191 Orange Street in Newark.
According to a statement released by Newark officials, commanders from each of Newark’s seven precincts and Chief of Fire Jackson have invited children touched by the Newark Department of Public Safety to this year’s toy distribution event.
"The selected children may have lost a parent or family member, been relocated following a fire or experienced some other public safety incident during 2019' according to city officials.
The children will be allowed to choose from among the bounty of toys donated by members of the Newark Department of Public Safety’s Police, Fire and Office of Emergency Management and Homeland Security and collected in partnership with the U.S. Marine Corps Reserve’s Toys for Tots Program.
Officials say they will also be invited to take photos with Santa and Sparky the Fire Dog, Newark Fire Division’s mascot.
Following the event, the remaining toys will be randomly distributed to Newark children throughout the city by police and firefighters as well as to children who will spend the holidays in area hospitals.
IMAGE CREDIT: Newark Department of Public Safety