Submitted Photo The Dunkirk Police Benevolent Association and Dunkirk Professional Firefighters Local 616 collected more than 200 toys at a Toy Drive on Sunday at the Murphy Training Grounds.

It is clear to anyone that first responders more than do their part to support their community. In Dunkirk, two groups took community support an extra mile over the weekend with holiday season just around the corner.

The Dunkirk Police Benevolent Association and Dunkirk Professional Firefighters Local 616 teamed up to host a Toy Drive last weekend at the Murphy Training Grounds on Brigham Road in Dunkirk. The groups held the event in partnership with Chautauqua Opportunities, who will be distributing the toys out to members of the community.

The event had Santa and a reindeer from Apthorp Farms on the scene to witness community members filing in with gifts to share with their neighbors. In all, more than 200 toys were collected.

The idea for the event started at the Dunkirk Fire House over a cup of coffee. Then after a conversation with Dunkirk Police Officer Edwin Gomez, a member of the Dunkirk Police Benevolent Association, the two groups came together to plan the event. Chautauqua Opportunities jumped on board to lend a hand, and the event took off.

Gomez said that after the success from the event in its first year, he hopes to make it an annual event moving forward.