Albuquerque Fire Fighters Feed Families for Christmas

December 20, 2010 – Albuquerque, NM Local 244 fire fighters held its first annual “Fire Fighters Feeding Families” Christmas charity event on December 18, 2010. For the event, Local 244 hosted seven underprivileged families, whose children are doing well in school, for Christmas dinner and gifts.

"This is the beginning of a tradition for us,” says Local 244 President Diego Arencon. “This event is about inspiring and rewarding children to succeed in school during hard economic times. Fire fighters serve as role models for our youth and are committed to the community."

Families were chosen based on recommendations from Albuquerque Public Schools. “We also worked through the school system to deliver dinner invitations to protect the privacy of the families,” says Arencon.

The meals and gifts were funded by Local 244 fire fighter donations. Each family ate dinner (cooked and served by off-duty fire fighters) at a different fire house.