Firefighters Collect Christmas Toys In Annual Parade

CHICAGO (CBS) -- The Chicago Firefighters Union's 15th annual toy parade wound its way from the South Side to the West Loop late Saturday morning.

WBBM's Bob Roberts reports there is nothing like it in Chicago as fire engines and ambulances with their sirens blaring stopping not to put out fires but to collect toys from homes, apartments and businesses along the route, then unloading hundreds of bicycles and other toys much of it bucket brigade style singing Christmas carols as they go.

Some toys have names or numbers.

"The firemen take a bunch of families they adopt or buy toys for so that is why they specifically have names on them," said Catholic Charities President Monsignor Michael Boland.

Jim O'Brien says it makes him proud to be a firefighter.

"We have a wonderful time doing this every year. We really know that we are blessed people to have good jobs and it is fantastic that we come out on this bitter cold day to give back to the community to people who don't have what we have," said O'Brien.

The toys will be sorted and distributed over the next two weeks.