MONTICELLO — The Monticello Fire Department completed their annual holiday toy drive on December 15, when donated toys and clothes were organized and packaged at the fire hall in order to benefit the 1st Way Life Center, the Monticello-based motherhood and pregnancy care center.

The drive is providing 50 children with clothing and toys for the holiday season.

The 1st Way Life Center, located at 481 Broadway, Suite 3, Monticello, assists mothers and mothers-to-be and their families in need year-round, and was asked by the Monticello Fire Department to be their beneficiary for this year’s toy drive.

The money used to pur-hase the donated goods were raised within the fire department. Around $700 dollars was generated at their annual end of year dinner alone.

Because of their generosity, 50 children ranging from new- borns to 18-year-olds will be gifted brand new toys and clothing items for the holiday season.

Purchasing and organizing the donated goods were Mother and Daughter Karen and Chris Kilgore and Ailene Washington.

The trio, along with three students of the Pine Bush Central School District who assisted in the purchasing of the goods, used the donated funds to purchase what was re- quested by families in need at 1st Way Life Center.

“We always support one organization, if we can we do two. This year there is such a need for clothing that we decided to stick with one organization to make sure we can provide for them,” Chris Kilgore said.

“It wasn't just so much of a toy drive as it was really trying to meet the needs of the families,” Kilgore said.

Annette J. Rien of 1st Way Life Center was grateful to the fire department for all the do- nated goods and their dedication to the community.

After the donations were carefully packaged and prepared for distribution, they were taken to the 1st Way Life Center by Rien, assisted by volunteers Jack Rien and Rohan Patrick of Monticello High School, for recipients to pick up their holiday gifts at their own discretion within the days leading up to Christmas.