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Right up until Christmas Eve, Berkeley fire stations and the Public Safety Center at Center and Milvia streets will be accepting new, unwrapped toys for distribution to children in need. 

The drive is jointly sponsored by the department, the Berkeley Fire Fighters Association and the Marine Corps’ Toy for Tots program. 

The Firefighters Association and the Berkeley Lions Club are sponsoring another drive, this one to provide food for low-income seniors in Berkeley, Albany and Emeryville. 

Canned meats, beans, peanut butter, hearty soups, pasta, fruit juices, rice and vegetables are especially welcomed and may be dropped off at the same locations as the toys through Christmas Day. 

Baskets for seniors will be prepared for delivery on the 18th, and food received in the following week will be distributed to Berkeley homeless shelters. 

For more information on the food drive, call John Tarascio at 981-5520. 

—Richard Brenneman›