After months of preparation, firefighters from the Pinellas Park Fire Department got together this Christmas Eve, like others before it, at Station 33. They got Santa Claus situated in a bright red fire truck to visit with eight families bringing them gifts and food items.
Firefighter Jason Pickett of Local 2193 of the Benevolent Association, has been organizing this decade long program for the past six years. It was obvious that Jason has not only invested much time into this endeavor but also showed his emotional investment. His emotions flowed at one point and was only able to say, “Merry Christmas.” When asked about his obvious emotion attachment to this endeavor, he stated, “People need help sometimes.”
The first stop of the evening was an 11 year-old girl name Skie with Cerebral Palsy and is non-verbal. Firefighters have been assisting her family for many years during the Thanksgiving and Christmas holidays. In recent years, Skie’s mother, Crystal, has been struggling with her own medical issues. Crystal spoke about the hardest part of the Christmas holiday, not being able to do as much as she would like for Skie. She said that the firefighters help her to not feel ashamed or alone during each Christmas season.
Many of the gifts came from toy drop off boxes in the city and from many community partners that support this event. The firefighters’ family and teens from the Pinellas Park Fire Explorer Post 945 assisted in this outpouring of support for the families in need. They all chipped in to act as Elves, wrapping the presents and preparing them all for delivery.
Applications for assistance are available at the fire department’s administration office. The applications are reviewed and visits to the homes on Christmas Eve are prearranged. The gifts are individualized based on the child’s special needs and age appropriateness.
Many of the families were outside and eagerly awaiting the arrival of Santa and the fire engine with its flashing lights and wailing sirens.
Santa was even prepared to take photos with neighbors that came outside hearing the fire truck on their street. Other children were given candy canes and Santa came prepared with extra toys for those other nice boys and girls.
About 9 p.m., the sirens stopped wailing and all the gifts were delivered. Santa was tired but he had much work ahead. He left on his sleigh to bring Christmas miracles throughout the world.
“Happy Christmas to all, and to all a good night!,” said Santa as he went into flight.
Well, the firefighters just do what they do everyday of the year. They await a different kind of bell to go off sending them into our community to provide gifts of saving lives while protecting our property and the environment.