Excerpts from ChicagoTribune.com:
This week, while handling their regular duties, Aurora firefighters will also be helping Santa with a special mission—delivering Christmas toys to around 125 families in the city.
"We used to load the gifts into the back of a pickup truck and go door-to-door," said Captain Dan Osman of the Aurora Fire Department. "Now, we use fire trucks for the deliveries, which is a big hit with the 400 kids who are getting presents this year."
The tradition started about 20 years ago when the Aurora Fire Department began collecting toys for local families. This year, Capt. Osman and Battalion Chief Mark Robinson are leading the effort.
The initiative was born after the Fire Department Union Local 99 helped provide Thanksgiving meals alongside turkeys from a local company. Inspired by that act of kindness, the firefighters decided to extend the spirit of giving into the holiday season by starting a toy drive.
Over the past few weeks, residents have been dropping off new, unwrapped toys at one of the nine fire stations. When people come in to donate, firefighters often take them on a tour of the station and even show them the fire trucks.
This year, Lieutenant Jim Rhodes reported that thousands of gifts have been collected across the city. Each child on the list, which comes from local schools, will receive between four and five presents.
Various groups—whether families or community organizations—wrap the gifts. With a coordinated effort, the presents are then delivered to different stations, where firefighters distribute them to children in their neighborhoods.
"It's a huge community effort," Rhodes said. "Without the generosity of the people, this program wouldn’t be possible."
"Seeing the kids' faces light up makes it all worth it," he added.
In addition to delivering toys, the Aurora Fire Department once again volunteered as bell ringers for the Salvation Army. On one day in early December, they raised $1,507. Michael Hess, a firefighter who has organized the department’s participation since 2006, shared that it’s always a joy for families to have photos taken with the firefighters when they drop money into the kettle.
Thanks, Dan
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