Charity toy drive gets boost

Local children on Wednesday helped fill what organizers worry will be an empty Spark of Love warehouse, with their donations going to the annual firefighters’ charity toy program.

“This is really special because this has been a slow year for gift gathering,” Capt. Jerry Strom told children from Harbor View Elementary, who visited the Corona del Mar fire station to drop off their gifts.

He spoke of the large Spark of Love warehouse in Irvine that’s normally packed with toys in December.

“Last year, it was full. This year, there’s not going to be many toys,” he said.

Local company Cahootie matched the children’s donations with their own products, fancy versions of the paper fortune tellers children often fold.

The local students’ donations included a hula hoop, trucks, Barbie dolls, a toy cash register, a massive stuffed bear and board games like Candy Land.

“They feel good about it. They really do,” teacher Linda Wawra said.

Students in Wawra and fellow teacher Patti Clark’s second- and third-grade combination class wore blue Kids Who Care T-shirts.

The children gave up class parties to participate in a different community-service activity monthly. Past events have included singing at a retirement home and collecting blankets for an animal hospital.

Before settling down to a meal of pizza and cake, the kids were given a fire safety lecture and got to check out fire trucks and equipment, like helmets the firefighters called “brain buckets.”

The day was bittersweet for Strom, who retires Friday.

“How long have you been a firefighter?” a child asked him.

“How old are you?” Strom asked back. “Seven? Multiply that by six and add two,” he said.

Strom called the Spark of Love visits one of the highlights of his job, and said he hopes to come back for the event during his retirement.

“He’s just been really inspirational,” Jennifer Schulz of the fire department said. The kids presented him with a handmade book tied with yarn.

The department also presented him with a special award for his educational efforts.

“This is great,” Strom said. “I can’t even put words to it.”