As they do each year, the Rowayton Fire Department collected a fire truck full of toys and other gifts for Carver kids.

This annual Santa Run was renamed THE MIKE BARBIS SANTA TOY DRIVE to honor the toy drive co-founder Mike Barbis, Rowayton’s late commissioner and longtime Carver friend and advocate. Among his many commitments to the Carver community, the Toy Drive was one of Mike’s favorites.

The other co-founder, Joan DeRegt, delivered all the donated gifts to the Carver Community Center today. These mountains of joy constituted this holiday season’s veritable “plum pudding stuffed with good things.” Rowayton’s volunteer fire department has been bringing great fun and wonder to Norwalk’s children for over 20 years.

Gifts include toys, sporting equipment, books, and gift cards. This is love in action, something Carver volunteer Joan is about all year.

The magic of this holiday season never ends, and its greatest gifts are friends like Joan and her generous team of Rowayton volunteers. The love these volunteers put into their giving keeps us all young and hopeful!