Toledo Strong is a Toledo nonprofit that supports first responders — especially the firefighters who protect our community. Every January 26, our Day of Thanks brings local businesses, families, and volunteers together to adopt fire stations across the Toledo region, delivering breakfast treats in the morning and dinner in the evening. And new this Christmas, Feed the Families delivers complete holiday dinners to local families who could use a hand.
Our Story
What started as a simple gesture of kindness has slowly evolved into something so much bigger than we ever imagined.
Back in 2014, a photo of my kids, Braeden and Kierra, standing side by side honoring the funeral procession of Toledo firefighter Steve Machcinski quietly went viral. At the time, it wasn’t meant to start anything. It was just pride. Gratitude. Kids honoring the people they admired.
But the community saw it. Felt it. And something special began. That moment helped rally Toledo around its firefighters, year after year. It led to relationships, traditions, and something deeply meaningful for Station 3. Seeing that photo turned into a framed memory, hanging on the wall at Station 3 where it belongs, will always be one of those full-circle moments.
Fast forward a few years, and those same kids were walking into the station like it was home. Playing ping-pong. Laughing. Being welcomed not as visitors, but as part of the family. That’s when it really hit home — this wasn’t about a picture anymore. It became about connection. About remembering. About showing our kids what community looks like when it shows up and stays.
What started as a few dozen donuts and dinners for a couple of stations has now grown into donuts and dinners for nearly 45 stations. That’s nearly 100 dozen donuts and over 300 dinners served on January 26th.
This is the heart behind Toledo Strong. And it all started with a small act of kindness.
Larry Cready — Founder
Larry Cready founded Toledo Strong in 2015. What began with his own family has grown into a community-wide tradition — and Larry still leads it today, organizing the stations, the volunteers, and the Day of Thanks every January 26.
Kierra Cready — Youth Ambassador
Kierra Cready serves as Toledo Strong’s Youth Ambassador. She was half of the photo that started it all in 2014 — the little girl in the bunny hat — and she’s been her dad’s sidekick in all of this since she was little: always wanting to help, right in the middle of the deliveries, and eating a few donuts along the way. As Youth Ambassador, she’s the example for other young people that you’re never too young to show up for the people who protect your community.
Toledo Strong · 419-324-9355 · social@toledostrong.org