‘It gives me hope’: Elgin mom and her five children receive Christmas cheer from firefighters — and Santa

On Christmas morning, 11-year-old Cande Rufino was at the window of his Elgin apartment on the lookout for Santa — arriving by fire truck instead of the traditional sleigh.

Each year, firefighters deliver to a local family in need after raising money at a bowling fundraiser run by Elgin Firefighters Local 439. Cande, his four siblings and his mom, Yvette Rufino, were this year’s recipients.

For the Rufino family, the Christmas cheer couldn’t have come at a better time. It offered hope for a family hit hard by the death of their father, Jorge Rufino, in September, as well as financial setbacks and health issues.

Yvette remembered Christmas was a special holiday for Jorge.

“Christmas was their dad's favorite time of the year,” she said. “He would listen to Christmas music any day of the year.”

At 8:30 a.m., Santa arrived in an Elgin fire truck. Stepping gingerly backward onto the street, Santa made his way toward the door and up the stairs.

He was accompanied by firefighter “elves” carrying trays of food, courtesy of Niko’s Tavern, and packages of toys and winter clothing.

With a hearty, “Hey, big brother!” Santa gave Cande a high-five, while siblings flocked on the couch to watch the procession of gifts.

Most of the children rushed to the Christmas tree to unwrap presents, which included a light-up tracing pad and tabletop pinball. Only 6-year-old Xochi remained fast asleep on the couch, oblivious to the joyful racket in the room.

Santa asked one of the children what he wanted for Christmas, said retired Elgin police Community Service Officer Richard Sanders.

“He said, ‘I don’t know.’ I said, ‘Well, you’re going to be happy then.’”

Elgin fire Lt. Patrick Rasmussen said the firefighters union partners with the Elgin Police Department's Social Services Unit each year. Caseworker Vanessa Botti connects them with local families who could benefit from holiday assistance.

The department allocates $1,000 to purchase holiday gifts, winter clothing and food for each selected family.

“It's nice to be able to give back to the community that we serve and provide some holiday cheer,” Rasmussen said.

Yvette is raising the five children, 13-year-old Temo, Cande, Xochi, 5-year-old Epi and 3-year-old Victoria, on her own, supported by Social Security benefits. She also receives ongoing support from the R Church in Elgin and has been connected with social services.

Her church helped her get a new couch and table from Habitat for Humanity.

Botti, the caseworker from the Elgin Police Department, became a critical advocate. She helped connect the Rufino family with the Elgin firefighters.

When Yvette learned she would be receiving the visit from the firefighters, she said, “I cried because I hadn’t felt supported for a while. When I heard from Patrick, I just started crying. I didn't know what to say, because I was just so relieved.”

The food consisted of a Christmas feast of meatloaf, rigatoni, mashed potatoes, vegetables and salad with ranch dressing. While the food was welcome, the clothing filled an essential need.

“My oldest needed gym shoes, because they grow so quick, and he’s a teenager now,” Yvette said.

After delivering their gifts, Santa and his elves exited the apartment, leaving Cande on the floor assembling his Mega Cyborg Hand, Victoria busying herself with her makeup kit and Xochi still sleeping peacefully on the couch.

“I’m grateful that they’re doing it at all,” she said. “Because they don’t have to. It gives me hope that there’s good people out there who look out for you when you least expect it.”