On December 13, Firefighters and Superheroes volunteered in front of the Rite-Aid on Phelan Road to support the Spark of Love Toy Drive, Phelan Chamber Angel Tree, and Tri-Community Toy Box. A three-wheeled Batmobile in the parking lot accompanied two fire trucks as the superheroes stationed themselves at all four corners of the Sheep Creek intersection to collect donations from the community to support children in need during the holiday season.
Batman was among the superheroes in attendance, along with several Star Wars characters, and of course, our very own Tri-Community firefighters. The Miss Phelan Court was also on hand to help Batman collect cash donations from motorists as they stopped at the intersection when not posing for pictures with kids and families. In San Bernardino County last year, the toy drive collected approximately 50,000 toys.
Ryan Murphy is a local firefighter who has lived in the High Desert his entire life and participated in the Toy Drive. He says that “it’s good” to be able to help those less fortunate, “especially now with covid going on.” According to Murphy, this year’s drive collected nine boxes full of toys and over $3,000 that will be used to purchase additional gifts.