Firefighters for Families collecting donations

Fire Rescue Public Education and Information Officer Jeremy Robshaw updated Historic City News concerning this year’s charitable donation drive to help out Santa and benefit children in need this holiday season.

Firefighters for Families, a 501(c)3 charity of St. Johns County Fire Rescue, has been fulfilling wish lists for St. Johns County children and their families for years, and now, YOU CAN HELP!

During the month of December, firefighters will be collecting donations and toys for needy children.

With the help of the school system, families needing assistance are identified and provided to Firefighters for Families.

Working from a holiday “wish list” obtained from the parents, we try to match donated toys and gifts with what the children want. In some cases we also purchase items. Gifts are wrapped by community and department volunteers, and parents are invited to a central location to pick up the gifts as well as a holiday meal for the family.

The only condition placed on the families is that they say the gifts are from either Santa Claus, or from the parents. Our goal is to enable the parents to provide a joyful holiday experience for their children; this is not about the firefighters delivering gifts.

That being said, we’d like to challenge you to the “Spirit of Giving”.

Just drop off your monetary donations or any new unwrapped Items to any St. Johns County fire station by December 15th.

Some items requested include: New toys, games (non-electronic), books, sporting equipment and school supplies. New clothes, socks, underwear and shoes are also welcome items.

Last year, Firefighters for Families provided a holiday experience for over 40 local families. With your help we hope to increase this number during the 2008 holiday season.

If you would like to send a monetary donation please make the check payable to “Firefighters for Families” and send the check to the below address:

St. Johns County Fire Rescue
3657 Gaines Rd
St. Augustine, FL 32084
Attention: RJ Sluman (904) 669-5680

Photo credit: Historic City News photographer Kerry McGuire