Morrison, IL, firefighters prepare for Christmas in the month of November during the Morrison Fire Department “Caring for Our Community” toy drive. Generous Community members help by donating toys or money to purchase them. Annually, MFD distributes toys to local school children in need. Families are eligible if they have children who attend school in the Morrison School District and are presently enrolled in the free lunch program. Additional recipients may be those who are unemployed or live in unemployed households, as determined on a case-by-case basis.
On Tuesday, December 19, 2017, Fire Department staff, spouses, and other volunteers wrapped gifts; placed several for each child into sturdy paper bags; put all gifts for each family into a larger bag, marked with a number to identify the family and order of delivery. Handles of the interior bags were tied together, to make certain they all arrived at the correct home.
On Thursday, December 21, about 112 children from 50 families were visited by Team Santa 1 and Team Santa 2. Each team was accompanied by a helpful elf. At 6:00 p.m., Engines 3 and 4, two pick-up trucks, and a large trailer departed the Fire Station and split into “town” and “rural” routes. The delivery usually takes about 3 hours, with pressure to beat 8:30 bedtimes.
To be time-efficient, volunteers ride along and gather presents in the trailer for the next family, while Mr. and Mrs. Clause visit with the current family. Photographs are taken; children ask Santa questions and receive a candy cane; parents receive a Sullivan’s Foods gift card.
After the rural route is completed, that Engine comes to meet the City truck. The Clauses pick up the tail end of the City list of homes and finish the deliveries.
Morrison Fire Department is a caring, selfless group that brings joy to many local children.
