ABOVE PHOTO: Participants with some of the donated items. (Photo/Jared Piper/PHLCouncil)
On December 10, about 30 tow truck drivers gathered in a procession to 34th and Hamilton Streets in West Philadelphia to deliver Christmas gifts to the children served by Youth Service Inc. (YSI), a nonprofit organization that has provided shelter and support services to Philadelphia’s children, youth, and families for 70 years.
This is the 15th year that “Tows 4 Tots” has collected and delivered holiday gifts for the children served by YSI. Gifts will be distributed by YSI to the families and youth that they serve, who have experienced homelessness, housing insecurity, or economic setbacks.
“Tows 4 Tots” is organized by Dave and Charles Norton of North Philadelphia-based Norton Tow Squad and their network of towers and friends.
The Nortons originally began the holiday drive to thank YSI on behalf of their nephew, who resided at YSI’s Baring House Group Home in the late 1980s.
The Nortons and YSI Executive Director Gwen Bailey were on hand to greet and thank the contributing tow truck drivers. Dozens of tow trucks drove down 34th Street heralded by a police escort.
Volunteers were on hand to help unload and store the packages.
YSI serves 4,000 children each year.
Learn more at www.ysiphila.org.
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