Swampscott to run ‘Toys for Tickets’ program again

SWAMPSCOTT – Your parking ticket could help out a needy child in town this holiday season.Swampscott, which rolled out the “Toys for Tickets” campaign for the first time last year, is running it again.Town Accountant/Assistant Town Administrator David Castellarin said the program was successful last year and he hopes to expand it this year.”Boston has a ticket for toys program to collect for Toys for Tots,” Castellarin said. “It has been successful there so we decided to try it last year.”Any driver who was issued a parking ticket in town can pay the ticket with a new toy.”Last year was very successful,” Castellarin said. “It’s that time of the year where every child should be able to celebrate. We had a lot of people come in and say instead of appealing a violation, they were glad to buy a toy instead.”Castellarin said the campaign runs Dec. 6-17. All toys collected will be donated to Toys for Local Children.Originated in 1984 by high school teacher Al Shapiro, Toys for Local Children (TLC) raises money and toys year round in conjunction with Gifts of Hope to make sure less fortunate families in town can provide gifts to their children for the holidays.To participate in the “Toys for Tickets” program, drivers must bring the parking ticket, a new unwrapped non-violent toy and a receipt for the toy to the Town Accountant’s Office during Town Hall business hours, which are 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Monday through Thursday and 8 a.m. to noon on Friday.Violations for parking in a handicapped spaced and tickets that are in default cannot be paid with toys.