Fairfax County firefighters and paramedics are sponsoring the 15th Annual Firefighters Holiday Rescuer's Toy Distribution from 10:45 a.m. to 2 p.m. Tuesday at the Penn Daw Fire and Rescue Station 11 in Alexandria. The department is partnering with local businesses and private corporations to distribute gifts and clothing to local children.

Dan Schmidt, spokesman for the Fairfax County Fire and Rescue Department, said each year the event continues to grow with support from the community.

"It seems to be that every year it gets bigger and bigger. The community has been very supportive and generous in providing toys and various gifts for children," he said.

Department members, Progressive Firefighters of Fairfax County, Inc. and International Association of Fire Fighters (IAFF) Local 2068, have been collecting toys, games, coats and other items to be distributed to children throughout Fairfax County during the holiday season.

"We've been involved for at least to past five to seven years. We as firefighters and paramedics, being the quote-on-quote, professionals here in Fairfax County, our job is to provide service to the community 24/7," said IAFF Local 2068 President John Niemiec.

It's not only about the holidays and about us feeling good or the community feeling good. These are the types of things firefighters do all day every day within the community, whether it's a backpack drive, a coat drive a canned food drive. That's what your firefighters do here in Fairfax County. We give back to the community."

Because of donations and support from businesses and civic organizations including Operation Warm/Coats for Kids, Promax Realtors, Apple Federal Credit Union, Nationwide Creditors, the Rotary Club of Tysons Corner, Service Employees International Union-512 and Occasionally Cake, it is anticipated that several thousand children and their families will receive gifts this holiday season.

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