THE SAUGUS ADVOCATE – FriDAy, DECEmbEr 2, 2022 Page 5 ASKS | FROM PAGE 3 have organizations and businesses that help out. I don’t want to name them so I don’t forget anybody. At the end of the toy drive, we’ll get a letter out to recognize the people who helped out this year. But I’d have to say that retired Saugus Firefi ghter Don Babin and his wife Judy have been a huge help. Don’s been with me from the beginning. Q: When you look back on all these years that the Saugus Fire Department Toy Drive has helped out families in need, what are your best memories? A: One of the biggest ones is how generous the people in Saugus are for donations at Christmastime. Then there’s the reaction you get from the people you are helping out. It’s overwhelming when you go to make deliveries and see people with tears in their eyes. It’s a “thank you.” They’re showing gratitude – and it really makes you feel like you’ve done something that helped somebody. Q: Any special memories that really stand out? A: Yes. One year we got a check from somebody who wanted to thank us. The person said she was one of the children in a family we helped out. The check was “pay back.” The woman said, “Thank you for what you’ve done for our family over the years. You put smiles on our faces.” On another occasion, I saw a grown man crying with joy, he was so grateful for how we 4.0 A room full of toys from a previous Saugus Fire Department Christmas Toy Drive (Courtesy photo to The Saugus Advocate) helped his family. He worked with a daughter of one of the fi refi ghters. When I went over to his house to deliver the gifts, he gave me a bear hug. He was a big guy, over six feet tall, so when he gave me that bear hug, my feet were off the ground. He was the happiest guy in the world that I was helping him out. Q: How did you make out last week from the Saugus Lions Club Third Annual Roaring Toy Drive down at the Saugus Senior Center? A: We got two pickup truckloads of toys last Saturday. It was a pretty successful day. But we’re just getting started. Q: Are you able to get enough toys for everybody on the list? A: Oh yeah – more than the families in need. But we always save enough toys, just in case we have a fi re in some family’s home, where everything gets destroyed. We have a reserve that stays with us. One year there was a house fi re in a %APY* 36 Month CD Missing Out Doesn’t Add Up. Ask about our in-home or office concierge service. IMPRESSIVE INTEREST AND A GREAT TIMING JUST MAKES SENSE. Here’s your chance to run the numbers in your favor. Everett Bank’s 36 Month CD with an amazing 4.0% APY* gets you closer to those financial goals much faster. Easily calculate better earnings with Everett Bank’s 36 Month CD. Go to everettbank.com for details. surrounding town and we donated some toys to help them out. And we also have some charities we help out with the toys we receive. Q: Sounds like you get a healthy surplus of toys. A: Yes. We get enough where we are able to give two or three gifts to each child – at least one good present. We could probably give out 20 toys per family, but Santa doesn’t bring 20 toys. And we give out gift cards for the older children who don’t play with Legos anymore. Q: You’ve been doing this for over 30 years. How much longer will you be involved? A: You’ve got to be realistic about it. At some point, you want to be able to pass the torch on to somebody younger who can keep the tradition going. I made an announcement last year at the Local 1003 union meeting that I would be retiring. It’s been fun ASKS | SEE PAGE 7 425r Broadway, Saugus Located adjacent to Kohls Plaza Route 1 South in Saugus at the intersection of Walnut St. We are on MBTA Bus Route 429 781-231-1111 We are a Skating Rink with Bowling Alleys, Arcade and two TV’s where the ball games are always on! PUBLIC SKATING SCHEDULE 12-8 p.m. Sunday Monday Tuesday $9.00 Price includes Roller Skates Rollerblades/inline skates $3.00 additional cost Private Parties 7:30-11 p.m. $10.00 Price includes Roller Skates Adult Night 18+ Only Wednesday Thursday Friday Everyone must pay admission after 6 p.m. Private Parties Private Parties 4-11 p.m. Saturday 12-11 p.m. $9.00 $9.00 Everyone must pay admission after 6 p.m. Sorry No Checks - ATM on site Roller skate rentals included in all prices Inline Skate Rentals $3.00 additional *Annual Percentage Yield (APY) is accurate as of the date posted and is subject to change without notice. APY assumes that interest remains on deposit until maturity. A withdrawal will reduce earnings. A penalty may be imposed for early withdrawal. Offer may be withdrawn at any time.Minimum of $500 is required to open a Certificate of Deposit and earn the advertised APY. BIRTHDAY & PRIVATE PARTIES AVAILABLE www.roller-world.com
6 Publizr Home