World Photos by Lou Sennick
Two sets of Red Wagons will leave the Bay Area soon and head to the Shriners Hospital in Boston. On hand to see them off last week were, from left, Loren Parrish and Jack Hoffman from Hauser; Jeff Jenkins from North Bay; Mick Sneddon from Charleston; and Matt Fare from Coos Bay.
Each wagon carries a sign listing the groups who helped pay for their construction and shipping. On the back, another sign lists the volunteers who constructed the wooden wagons.
The Boston Shriners Hospital and its small patients soon will get a gift from local firefighters — two red wagons.
The wagons will be used to help move young patients around the hospital and include an IV hanger. The wagons are the result of the Tofflemire Family Project, which has been donating hand-crafted wagons for the 22 Shriner Hospitals in the United States, Canada and Mexico.
Local resident Jim Tofflemire and some friends have been building the wagons in honor of his son, Phillip, who was a Shriner patient and passed away in April 2006 at the age of 23. Tofflemire said the wagons should last about 25 years.
The group will have completed 50 wagon sets by early next year. The two headed for Boston were funded with help from the Hauser, North Bay, Charleston and Coos Bay volunteer firefighters. Volunteers got together last week at the North Bay fire hall to send them off. Among them were Loren Parrish and Jack Hoffman from Hauser; Jeff Jenkins from North Bay; Mick Sneddon from Charleston; and Matt Fare from Coos Bay.
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One of the project helpers wrote on Dec 15, 2008 6:25 PM:
In response to Observation's comment about North Bend Fire Dept. They were sent a letter asking for a donation at least 2 times with no response what so ever. So I'm not sure which one of your solutions it is.
This is a great gift. I use one of these wagons as a volunteer at Doernbecher Children's Hospital and get to see first hand how something as simple as taking a child for a ride in these wagons can affect their day. Thank you for all you do.
A great story about caring people. More than 50 years ago, I sat on the orphanage front steps daily at Christmas time waiting for someone, anyone, who never came. I will never forget. I know how appreciated those wagons will be. Thanks local neighbors and firefighters. The spirit of giving, at all times, especially by neighbors who have so little, is one reason why I love it here. Please have a great holiday season.
The World welcomes your comments about stories, and we encourage a robust dialogue on this site. All comments must meet reasonable standards of decency and civility.
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- No information that invades another person's privacy.
- No business solicitations or charitable solicitations.
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