Pictured left to right: Police Chief Fred Fletcher and Sgt. Austin Garrett with the Chattanooga Police Department, Captain Kelly Simmons, president of the Forgotten Child Fund, and Fire Chief Lamar Flint and Deputy Chief Chris Adams with the Chattanooga Fire Department.
Toy collection boxes for the Forgotten Child Fund are being placed at all 19 Chattanooga fire stations.
“We’re big supporters of the Forgotten Child Fund,” said Fire Chief Lamar Flint, “and we want to make it as easy as possible for people to donate to this wonderful charity.”
To find the Chattanooga fire station nearest you, visit the Chattanooga Fire Department online at http://www.chattanooga.gov/fire-department/station-locator.
The Forgotten Child Fund was started in 1965, when two Chattanooga Police Officers went on a call, to find that the children at the house were not going to get any presents Christmas morning. The officers collected some money and were able to find some toys to help make sure that those children would not be “forgotten” Christmas morning. From that experience, a few more Chattanooga police officers, firefighters, and members of the School Patrol formed the “Forgotten Child Fund.”
Since its beginning, the Forgotten Child Fund has grown to include not just Chattanooga fire and police, but also Hamilton County EMS, Hamilton County Sheriffs Officers, and area rescue teams. They provided new toys to over 6,000 children in 2013.
The Forgotten Child Fund will be collecting new toys throughout this holiday season. Tax deductible financial donations are also welcome. Checks may be mailed to : FCF, 2000 Alton Park Blvd., Chattanooga, Tn. 37410. You can also donate online on their website at http://www.forgottenchildfund.org/.