SPENCER, Mass. - Dozens of people helped local children receive free gifts this holiday season at the annual 'Stuff the Bus' toy drive in Spencer.
What You Need To Know
- Dozens of people donated gifts at the annual 'Stuff the Bus' toy drive in Spencer
- The event is a collaboration between AA Transportation and the local police and fire departments
- Donations will be sent to Spencer Toys for Kids, which helps supply toys to more than 200 local children
- The David Prouty High School Band also performed holiday songs at the event
Outside Klem's department store, longtime bus driver Leslie Burgos with AA Transportation worked with a handful of volunteers to collect toys, filling each seat of the bus with Barbie dolls, action figures and more.
"I have been doing it for the past 10 years for my kids, they come down and help me," Burgos said. "We stuff the bus with toys for less fortunate children, and we donate them all to Spencer Toys For Kids."
Every year, the bus pulls up to a new location in Spencer, and with the help of the Spencer Fire Department and Spencer Police Department, they have no problem filling up every seat with hundreds of gifts.
Burgos is excited about this year in particular, because Klem's offered a 20% discount on toys to encourage more people to donate.
"It's so much fun for me to get everyone in the spirit," Burgos said. "I love being out here in the community, being able to collect and do this, and meet all these people. We have some of the same people come back every year."
The Spencer Toys For Kids program helps supply toys to more than 200 local kids.
Burgos and her volunteers also had some help in drumming up the holiday spirit, courtesy of the David Prouty High School Band and their Music Director Kelsey Forfa.
"These kids love everything about the community, they reach out all the time," Forfa said. "We play at several events throughout the town, we've done this now for four years since I've been here."
In addition to the Saturday collection, donations were also sent in advance to the Spencer Police Station.