An 80+ Year Tradition

Milford Professional Firefighters • Local 944

Our Story

The Milford Firefighters Union’s Toys for Tots program began in the 1940s with a simple but heartfelt mission—make sure every Milford child had at least one gift to open on Christmas morning. Back then, our members would collect old toys, refurbish them, and deliver them to local families in need.

In the following decades, the program grew. We began repairing old bicycles out of Station 7 on Wheelers Farm Road and, by the late 1970s and early 80s, started collecting brand-new toys alongside monetary donations. With this growth came the move to the Margaret Egan Center, first using a couple of spare classrooms to sort and distribute toys. Eventually, the program expanded again, transforming the center’s gymnasium into a fully stocked “toy store” over the course of three days, where recipients could shop for their children’s needs.

Today, our program is supported by more than 50 drop-off locations, numerous individuals and businesses who host toy drives, and hundreds of donors who contribute financially each year. These partnerships keep our mission alive and allow us to serve hundreds of Milford families annually.

Our Mission

From day one, our goal has remained the same: to ensure every Milford child experiences the magic of Christmas. While our union is active yearround in many charitable efforts across the city, the Toys for Tots program is our largest and longest-running tradition.

Our Commitment

Every member of our union is encouraged to participate. For the past decade, Doug and I have had the privilege of running the program. Meeting the families and seeing the relief and joy on parents’ faces— knowing their children will have a happy Christmas—is what drives us to keep going year after year.