The Tyler Fire Department wants to help make giving easier this Christmas, by offering convenient locations throughout Tyler to drop-off new toys for girls and boys ages 2 to 14.

The toys are being collected through Dec. 13 at any Tyler fire station, all Tyler Whataburger restaurants and the Prestige Estates Nursing Home. Find the nearest fire station, go to fire.city

oftyler.org, scroll over the blue “About Us” tab and select “Find a Fire Station.”

The Tyler Firefighters Association began this toy drive 32 years ago in conjunction with the Tyler Fire Department to bring joy to the children in Tyler and Smith County by collecting toys to be distributed to needy children at Christmas.

“Firemen want to protect everybody, but we have a real soft spot in our hearts for kids,” Tyler firefighter Glenn Ray said.

Toys will be collected and distributed to children by the Salvation Army. This is the first year the Fire Department is partnering with Toys for Tots. When the kids drop off the toys at their local fire station they can get a tour of a fire truck.