Sun-Sentinel (Fort Lauderdale, Florida)
PALM BEACH, Fla. — Franceline Desrosier, 14, of Wellington said she has never had a “real Christmas” before. And that is one of the reasons the firefighters of Palm Beach County Fire Rescue station 20, 1000 Greenview Shores Blvd., decided to adopt her family and give them a Christmas with all of the trimmings.
“Station 20 took a collection, we did some shopping and provided them with a Christmas tree, all of the ornaments and decorations, the turkey dinner and presents for all [four] of the children,” said Jim Sousa, a driver/engineer for Station 20.
The firefighters showed up to the family’s door on Christmas Eve. This is the first year the station decided to adopt a family.
“We very fortunate to have our county jobs as firefighters and we like to reach out and touch the local community,” he said.
Sousa said they collected more than was needed for the family.
“With our overflow of generosity I’m going to spread it to another family,” he said.
That family lives in Boca Raton. He said the Palm Beach County Fire Rescue teamed up with the United Way of Palm Beach County this year and adopted five families, but his station decided to adopt a family on their own. Headquarters, he said, contacted him because they had another family in need and so the station adopted a second family.
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