Clearwater firefighters bring toys to pediatric patients at Mease Countryside Hospital

Clearwater Fire & Rescue crews answered a special kind of call on Wednesday – one that brought gifts and smiles to children in the hospital during the holiday season.

Santa, who moonlights as a Clearwater firefighter during the off season, rode a fire engine to the Countryside Mease Hospital, located at 3231 McMullen Booth Road.

Once at the hospital, Santa and his elves, who also dabble as firefighters during their down time, distributed toys and other gifts to children, with the assistance of the Morton Plant Mease Health Care Foundation.

The toys were collected through the assistance of community partners Walmart and Publix, along with city of Clearwater employees and the International Association of Firefighters Local 1158.