WORCESTER, Mass. - If you went grocery shopping on Sunday in Worcester you may have seen some city firefighters collecting donations of food and toys.

City firefighters set up outside of the Shaw's on West Boylston Street, as well as three Stop & Shops throughout the city, asking for unopened toys and food items.

The local 1009's annual holiday food and toy drive makes contributions to Toys for Tots, Worcester County Food Bank and the Salvation Army.

Monetary donations are split between the three organizations.

The department simply asks people to be as generous as they can.

"Oh we've had a great response - an outpouring of support from the community as well as all the citizens of Worcester coming out here to support Worcester Fire 1009 and our contributions to these three wonderful organizations before the holidays," Worcester firefighter John Callahan said. "It feels good to give back especially after not being able to do this last year. It just feels good to be a little bit back to normal. Helping out the community as best we can on behalf of the local 1009."

Once everything is gathered, the fire department says the food donations will be dropped off Monday.

Toys for Tots will pick up the toy donations sometime in mid-December.