By Julie R. Johnson
Corning Observer
CORNING, Calif. — “It’s Santa, it’s Santa,” cried out the little boy as he ran across the yard and into the arms of Santa Claus on Saturday.
This was a scene taking place in many Corning homes that day as Santa and his firefighting elves delivered toys and food to more than 70 less fortunate families in the community.
The annual Christmas Basket project is organized by the Corning Volunteer Fire Department, which spends countless hours for more than a month to provide the seasonal bounty to qualifying families.
“Isn’t this what Christmas is all about?” said Assistant Fire Chief Dave Demo. “Yes, it is a lot of work, but just look at the faces of these kids and how excited they are. That is worth every minute.”
Saturday started at daybreak for the volunteer firefighters as they organized toys and food into dozens of boxes. After a breakfast at the fire hall, they started packing two extra large U-haul trucks with the boxes, then, with Santa leading the way on a fire engine, they started making deliveries.
The merry job takes all day, with only a short break for lunch.
And the firefighters have been doing it for more than 35 years.
“We couldn’t do this without the support of so many clubs, schools, organizations, individuals, businesses and more who donate all they can for this project,” Corning Fire Chief Martin Spannaus said.
The giving paid off.
At a home on McLane Circle, a boy exclaimed, “Santa brought me a bike,” while his sister ran to show their mother the new doll Ol’ St. Nick and his over-sized elves had placed in her arms.
Even Christmas trees were provided to some of the homes, children responding with shouts of joy.
As if that wasn’t enough, Santa and the firefighters made sure they had enough toys on board to hand out to random children playing in their yards, or shyly peeking through window panes to see if that really was Santa riding through their neighborhood on a fire engine.
Tears were shed and smiles lit faces, and not only by those receiving the goods, but by the givers, as well.
It was the Christmas season at its best.
Copyright 2016 the Corning Observer