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Home News News Stories Successful Toys for Tots Campaign
Sunday, 16 January 2011 20:41
ReStrung, Craig Hoeft & US Marine Corps Reservists

Saline Area Fire Department and Fiddlers ReStrung

Conclude Successful Toys for Tots Campaign


Saline, January 5, 2011 – Chief Craig Hoeft of the Saline Area Fire Department and members of Fiddlers ReStrung played Santa Claus to Saline Area Social Services over the holiday break by delivering toys collected during the annual Toys for Tots campaign. This year’s campaign collected more than 1,500 new toys for deserving children who may have not been able to enjoy receiving toys for Christmas without the generosity of the Saline community and the efforts of the Fire Department, Fiddlers ReStrung and the U.S. Marine Corps’ Toys for Tots program.

In what has become an annual area tradition, the Fire Department and Fiddlers ReStrung kicked off the toy collection effort during the Saline Holiday Weekend, highlighted by Fiddlers ReStrung’s Winter Hometown Concert at Saline High School on Dec. 5, 2010.  For the past four years, the Fire Department and Fiddlers ReStrung have collaborated in the collection effort, collecting more than 4,000 toys during that time that are distributed by Saline Area Social Services to needy families and children.

“The Toys for Tots campaign demonstrates in a very meaningful way the great relationship that exists in our community between the Fire Department, Fiddlers ReStrung and, of course, the Saline community itself,” said Chief Hoeft.  “On behalf of the families benefiting from this holiday generosity, I cannot say thank you enough.  It is inspiring to see such an outpouring of holiday spirit every year.”

The toys were turned over to Social Services on Dec. 20 by Chief Hoeft and Fiddlers ReStrung members just in time for Christmas.

The Toys for Tots initiative began in 1947.  The Saline Fire Dept. has hosted a toy collection to benefit children identified through Saline Social Services for many years.  Eight years ago Saline firefighter and U.S. Marine Corps Reservist Kurt Schneider initiated the fire department’s alliance with the U.S. Marine Corps Reserves’ Toys for Tots program. 

Fiddlers ReStrung is a -piece string ensemble featured at over 80 performances annually consisting of students at Saline High School, all of whom share in producing a unique ensemble truly their own. The organization is officially sponsored and supported by Saline Area Schools and Saline Community Education.  Students are chosen based not only on musical talent, but personal maturity as well balancing a demanding performance schedule while maintaining high standards in other school activities, sports, and academics.

New member auditions this year will be held Sunday, January 23, 2011 at 3:00 pm in the Saline High School Orchestra Room.  For additional information on this event or Fiddlers ReStrung, please contact Rebecca Groeb-Driskill, Cultural Arts Specialist, Saline Area Schools at (734) 429-8000 ext. 2338 or at This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it .  You can also visit www.fiddlersrestrung.com.