Aurora firefighters lend Santa a hand
Santa typically makes deliveries via flying reindeer and sleigh.
But on Tuesday morning, he traveled in a fire engine to distribute toys to needy families in Aurora.
It was the culmination of the 13th annual holiday toy drive organized by the Aurora Professional Firefighters Union, Local #99. Throughout December, each of Aurora's nine fire stations had drop-off boxes for people to make donations.
Lt. Dan Osman of the Aurora Central Station said there was an initial dearth of donations at the start of the campaign. But he said a push of newspaper and radio publicity helped open up people's wallets in these tough economic times.
"We collected more toys than we did last year," Osman said, estimating the tally at more than 3,300.
Osman also credited substantial cash gifts provided by organizations such as the Women's Auxiliary Group in Montgomery, Fleece Oil Co. in Batavia, Wal-Mart and Local #99 itself that totaled around $5,000.
"With that money, we go and buy presents for kids who are 12 and up," Osman said, noting that iPod Shuffles and the video game "Guitar Hero" were part of the mix.
"Any extra money left over goes to buying supermarket gift cards," he said. "We give those to families that we deem the neediest."
While name-brand toys may get the most attention, Osman was touched by one particular contribution made via drop-off box.
"It was a little kid's purse that was half-filled with change," Osman said. "It probably was a little kid who helped out by saving his or her own change and putting it in the box."
Though not officially affiliated with Toys for Tots (that gift donation program is run through the Marine Corps), the Aurora firefighters did work with with that organization and others in coordinating donations.
Osman particularly likes the toy distribution itself, when he and his colleagues get to be Santa's elves for a few days.
"It's great to see the sparkle in kids' eyes when they see Santa walking up the drive with toys," Osman said. "Especially when they're not expecting it."