Santa didn’t wait until Christmas Eve to deliver presents to kids in Green Bay, Wisconsin. Local 141 fire fighters and Central Church members joined him as he made an early stop Dec. 11 to St. Vincent Children’s Hospital.
It’s an annual tradition to help kids and their families who cannot be home for the holidays.
“The look on the kids’ faces when we visit makes the weeks of planning all worth it,” Local 141 President Ryan Hintz said. “We look forward to doing it every year.”
Central Church members collect names of children who will be staying through Christmas and gather gifts for each one. Then, with the help of Local 141 fire fighters, the presents are wrapped and loaded onto an off-duty engine.
This year, the team handed out presents to more than a dozen kids.
“It’s such a joy when we see those kids open those gifts, the joy on their faces. We (also) give gift cards to the cafeteria for the parents so they can buy a meal while they’re in the hospital. It’s fun to be able to spread some Christmas cheer,” Aaron Schaut, Lead Pastor of Central Church, told local news outlets.
Whether it’s eight kids or 20 kids, they never miss a year, even during the COVID lockdown. That year, the fire fighters used aerial trucks to deliver the gifts.
“We try to make it as special as possible. So, Santa rides with us and we arrive with sirens and lights so the kids can watch from their rooms as we arrive,” Hintz said. “We spend 15 minutes or so with each patient so that they get that one-on-one attention.”
