Annual Tows for Tots toy drive delivers Christmas cheer to children in need

PITTSBURGH — It’s the season of giving, and after months of collecting toys, tow truck drivers from the Pittsburgh area gather to deliver presents.

“The towing industry is a giant family. There might be competition, but at the end of the day we’re a family, and to come together for something like this is amazing,” said Joey Janicky, organizer of Tows for Tots.

Many of the tow truck flatbeds are loaded with brand-new kids’ bikes, while bag after bag of toys are donated by people in the community, and even superheroes.

“We didn’t want to do it this year because of everything going on with the pandemic. But we felt that with everything going on, that these kids need our help more than ever this year, because this is a bad year for everybody,” Janicky said.

It was an unusual sight as a caravan of tow trucks escorted Santa’s sleigh and gifts from Carnegie to Uptown Pittsburgh, to the offices of Every Child Incorporated, which provides foster care and adoption services.

“It feels good to be able to give back and really help out kids, give them things they might not have been able to have,” said Josh Chechak of Rusty Hook Towing.

This is the fifth year for Tows for Tots. What started with 12 tow trucks has grown 10 times that.

Plans are already being made for next year’s Tows for Tots.

Pittsburgh Police collecting toys for holiday season

Cox Media Group