The fundraising drive for Danville Fire Department's Christmas Toy Program is under way, but signs are pointing to a much tighter Christmas for the area's neediest families.
Firefighters are reporting that monetary donations to the toy drive are significantly lower than this time last year, with available funds at about two-thirds of what was available in 2007.
Firefighters will try to fill toy requests during the first week in December within the limits of available funding.
The department expected to provide gifts to about 250 children during the 2007 drive and instead managed to assist just over 300 in the Boyle County area.
This was accomplished with significant help from Perryville Fire Department and other organizations.
The fire department expects to handle a similar caseload this year, but the economy likely will create an additional demand for assistance.
