Fire fighters are the local heroes in almost every community. Apart from saving us from fires, they often help out the community with charity and donations.
There are many initiatives in which firefighters participate or even organize. The firefighters in the Memphis fire station for example have their own annual Fill the Fire Truck drive.
Each year they collect donations from the local communities in the form of toys and stuffed animals. Then they fill up as many fire trucks (and even ambulances sometimes) as they can with the toys.
Afterwards, they put the toys into giant Santa stockings. Then they bring the toys to local families in need. This year the firefighters once again worked with the local schools to find the families in need.
“It’s a pretty good feeling. That’s why we do it just to help out the families in the area. That’s what this time of the year’s about”, Fire Chief Justen Diaz says to TheTimesHerald.
Kids in four different families got a surprise Sunday afternoon as an ambulance and fire truck pulled up to their homes. Diaz said he’d worked with the parents ahead of time.
And kids receive more than just one present. They get bikes, toy cars, dolls, puzzles, coloring books, board games. Of course, stuffed animals also have a big role in the initiative.
The firefighters are very grateful to everyone who donate. Various local businesses also join by collecting toys or money for the department with which it can buy more toys. Each year the donations rise which makes the firefighters very grateful and happy. The same goes for the families and children in need who receive the needed gifts.
