Many San Francisco Firefighters and EMTs were volunteers for the SF Toy program well before becoming hired. Graduates from the 125th and the 126th probationary class exemplify this, as they continue to be active on and off duty serving the communities they work in, and live. Firefighter Tanesha Gibson of the 125th inspired many staff by suggesting giving to those in need during this pandemic on a social media post.
Firefighter Belal Mogaddedi of the 126th probationary class answered her call and started a collection within the 126th class roster. In 24 hours, Firefighter Magaddedi, with assistance from Firefighter Julian Villavicencio, collected $1321.00 from their classmates to give to families in need.
SF Firefighters Toy Program Volunteers and San Francisco Firefighters are inviting families in need to pick up arts-and-crafts, games, and puzzles for their children during the shelter in place. SF Firefighters have started to seek out families in need and helping them by buying groceries and delivering them to their homes or sending them a monetary donation via Venmo. SF Firefighter Tanesha Gibson inspired many of her co-workers by posting on her social media that she would give someone $200 whose circumstances have changed by the Coronavirus pandemic.
SF Firefighters Toy Program thought this was an incredible act of kindness and posted about it on the Toy Program Social media. The idea took off like a wildfire. The next day the 126th Recruit Class collected $1321.00 and donated it to the SF Firefighters Toy Program to give to families in need.
The Toy Program started distributing money to our Firefighters and Toy Program volunteers, asking them to find someone to bless. The guidelines were: Find someone in need, a single mom with children, a veteran, an older person. There are many thousands of people struggling right now.
San Francisco Firefighter Jose Villalobos from Class 126 learned about a family who has seven children and the father who worked three jobs and lost all of them. Firefighter Villalobos bought them $200 worth of groceries and delivered them to their home.
San Francisco Firefighter Antoine Davis from Class 121 went to Costco and bought $200 worth of essential groceries and toilet paper and surprised a woman struggling to live in the Sunnydale housing community, which takes care of many children while their parents are working.
San Francisco Firefighter Julian Villacencio from Class 126 learned about a family that just moved and were struggling to make ends meet and helped her with groceries. FF Villalobos then donated his whole paycheck to give to others, stating that there are so many people in need, and he is very blessed to have a job, a roof over his head and food to eat.
Firefighter Tanesha Gibson has also continued her mission to help families in need as donations are coming in. Firefighter Tanesha Gibson is assisting single moms who are struggling in the community she grew up in Bay View, Hunters Point in San Francisco. Firefighter Tanesha Gibson is a trailblazer, and her inspiration has inspired many other firefighters during this COVID 19.
Recently, SF Firefighters Toy Program volunteers lined up in front of 325 Newhall and gave the pre-selected families in need games for their children to play with as well as essential items donated to the Toy Program.
Anyone that wants to help can donate to the SF Firefighters Toy Program via their website at sffirefighterstoys.org/ starting 7/4/2020 through 30/4/2020
