MIDDLETOWN, Calif. – Ahead of his appearance in town set for this weekend, on Thursday evening Santa Claus dropped by to visit with the community and the men and women who help keep Middletown safe all the year round.
The bay of the South Lake County Fire Protection District fire station on Highway 175, usually packed with equipment, was filled with hundreds of people of all ages who stopped in during the two-hour-long event Thursday evening.
Children got to choose gifts from tables stacked high with toys, books and games, with event staff replenishing the tables with still more goodies as the night went on.
The children also lined up to visit with Santa and Mrs. Claus, decked out in their holiday finest, seated against a backdrop that included a fire truck decked out in lights, holiday decorations and toys.
Everyone who came was invited to enjoy hot cocoa, cookies and popcorn.
This was the first year that South Lake County Fire has had this event, according to Jody Galvan, a district volunteer.
In past years, the district has had its “Candy Cane Run,” but this year decided to go with the Christmas party and toy giveaway, with help from the Fire Family Foundation, which sponsored the event.
The foundation was formed in 2008 by Firefighters First Credit Union in order to offer “immediate assistance to firefighters and their families, fire victims, fire departments, and charities,” according to its Web site, www.firefamilyfoundation.org/ .
In addition to the foundation, Galvan said donations of toys came from fire departments around Northern California, along with private citizens, some of whom also donated cash also donated toward the giveaway.
While a great deal of focus has been placed on helping fire survivors, Galvan said the Thursday night event welcomed everyone.
Email Elizabeth Larson at [email protected] . Follow her on Twitter, @ERLarson, or Lake County News, @LakeCoNews.