When Dick Melloni was the Deputy Fire Chief in Wareham, he was always doing things for the town — he personally helped raise money for a new fire boat and new fire engines, and he was always willing to lend a hand to those who were were less fortunate.

After he passed away suddenly in 1993, some some friends and family decided to keep his giving spirit alive, organizing the annual Dick Melloni Toy Drive, which just finished its 22nd year. Since its inception, the toy drive has grown and grown, and this year, toys were given to 563 children from 239 families — a majority of which live in Wareham and Onset.

“It continues to grow,” said Kristi Melloni, one of Dick’s daughters. “There’s been a few years where we’ve had some dips, but we’ve always been really busy. We helped a hundred more children than we did last year.”

Melloni said the drive was started by Sandra (Florindo) Vary, another Wareham resident who was friendly with the Melloni’s and who wanted to honor Dick for everything he’d done for the town.

“It started with us giving to 30 families,” said Melloni. “We just went out and found used toys that looked good — we were just trying to help the kids out. From there, it kind of blew up.”

Now, several other town organizations and volunteers lend support.

Every year for the past few years, the Wareham Police Department (with the help of the Wareham Harbormaster’s Department) has held “Stuff-a-Cruiser” toy drives at Walmart and Target, with the donations going to the Dick Melloni Toy Drive.

The Wareham Fire Department helps out as well, serving as a donation station for the drive, helping to identify children and families who are in need, and delivering toys to children just before Christmas, in full fire gear nonetheless.

“They’ve been with us for 21 years,” she said, noting that a long list of others from within Wareham help out as well.

Melloni said her father was the ultimate family man, and the Toy Drive and the Dick Melloni Youth Foundation, which was formed out of the Christmas event, continues to be run by members of her family.

“Family was number one to him,” she said.

Through the Youth Foundation, they’ve been able to continue to help support children from the town of Wareham. It focuses on children's education, health, and welfare, and is well-known for "Lids-4-Kids," which provides free bicycle helmets for families in the area.

Melloni said that the Toy Drive and the Youth Foundation wouldn’t be possible without the support of the Wareham community — something her father likely would have loved to see.

“It’s really so overwhelming the support we get from the community,” she said. “It makes you feel really good to know that there are people willing to help the kids — that’s why we do it.”