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Fire department makes Christmas merry for local families
  
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By ANNA SCHUMANN
For ten families adopted by the Tomball Fire Department, Christmas this year will mean not only getting presents, but getting necessities many take for granted.
With the help of members of the community, city staff, emergency volunteers and friends and family, members of the fire department were able to wrap thousands of dollars in gifts for their adopted families.
Piled up on tables inside the fire station were what anyone would expect to see wrapped for children: Disney princess accessories, High School Musical bed sheets, soccer balls and, of course, toy fire trucks. Reflecting the need of the families, there were also coats, shoes, diapers, cookware, food and packages of shampoo.
On Dec. 24, Christmas Eve, fire department employees and volunteers are to deliver the gifts, along with a hot Christmas meal with all the fixings, to each of the families.
Aubrey Thacker, secretary of the department’s public relations committee, said for her, this service to the community hits home.
“I like helping because my family situation growing up, we didn’t have a lot so it’s nice to help out other families who are less fortunate so they can have the Christmas they deserve,” she said.
Thacker got the opportunity to deliver presents to the families on Christmas Eve last year.
“As soon as we pulled up, kids literally ran up screaming, ‘the presents are here, the presents are here!’” she said. “One even started crying. In one of the houses, all they had was a tree and a chair.”
Though the gifts are for the whole family, Thacker said she believes helping the children is the most important part.
“Parents can’t give to the kids the way we have the opportunity to give to the kids,” she said. “It’s important we make it special for them.”
Volunteering in the community, especially during the holidays, is something Thacker said she feels compelled to do.
“It’s the most selfless thing you can do,” she said.
With the help of members of the community, city staff, emergency volunteers and friends and family, members of the fire department were able to wrap thousands of dollars in gifts for their adopted families.
Piled up on tables inside the fire station were what anyone would expect to see wrapped for children: Disney princess accessories, High School Musical bed sheets, soccer balls and, of course, toy fire trucks. Reflecting the need of the families, there were also coats, shoes, diapers, cookware, food and packages of shampoo.
On Dec. 24, Christmas Eve, fire department employees and volunteers are to deliver the gifts, along with a hot Christmas meal with all the fixings, to each of the families.
Aubrey Thacker, secretary of the department’s public relations committee, said for her, this service to the community hits home.
“I like helping because my family situation growing up, we didn’t have a lot so it’s nice to help out other families who are less fortunate so they can have the Christmas they deserve,” she said.
Thacker got the opportunity to deliver presents to the families on Christmas Eve last year.
“As soon as we pulled up, kids literally ran up screaming, ‘the presents are here, the presents are here!’” she said. “One even started crying. In one of the houses, all they had was a tree and a chair.”
Though the gifts are for the whole family, Thacker said she believes helping the children is the most important part.
“Parents can’t give to the kids the way we have the opportunity to give to the kids,” she said. “It’s important we make it special for them.”
Volunteering in the community, especially during the holidays, is something Thacker said she feels compelled to do.
“It’s the most selfless thing you can do,” she said.
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