Ohio State Fire Marshal Delivers Toys, Holiday Cheer to Hospitalized Children Following Annual Toy Drive

COLUMBUS, Ohio - The holiday spirits of dozens of hospitalized children are a bit brighter today. This morning, Ohio State Fire Marshal Kevin Reardon and representatives from the Ohio Department of Commerce Division of State Fire Marshal visited patients in Nationwide Children's Hospital's Burn Center. They joined Sparky, the Fire Prevention Mascot, to deliver toys that were recently collected during the Division's 12^th annual toy drive.

In addition to collecting 146 toys for patients, Marshal Reardon presented hospital staff with a check for $2,356 to support the Burn Center's ongoing mission of care and recovery. This marked the biggest monetary donation the Division has made in the 12 years of coordinating the toy drive. Over that 12-year period, the Division has collected a total of 1,657 toys and contributed over $8,174 to support the Burn Center. The donated toys and funds are largely collected from Division and agency staff to support hospitalized children.

"This is one of our favorite initiatives each year and we're honored to continue supporting Nationwide Children's Hospital through our toy drive," Marshal Reardon said. "Our team is always eager to contribute, and it's heartwarming to see how these donations bring joy to children and families during the holiday season."

The Burn Center at Nationwide Children's Hospital is a specialized facility dedicated to providing comprehensive care for pediatric burn patients, from emergency treatment to rehabilitation.

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Kevin Reardon, Ohio State Fire Marshal, Division of State Fire Marshal, Ohio Department of Commerce(Please note: This media may not play or download via all mobile devices. Newsrooms are encouraged to access media directly via computer.)

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About the Division of State Fire Marshal

The Division of State Fire Marshal is part of the Ohio Department of Commerce. The department is Ohio's chief regulatory agency, focused on promoting prosperity and protecting what matters most to Ohioans. We ensure businesses follow the laws that help them create jobs and keep Ohioans safe. To learn more about what we do, visit our website at com.ohio.gov.