Stayton and Sublimity Fire District volunteers and staff work together each year to make Christmas a little more magical. Stayton Volunteer Protection Company #1 members coordinate the “Toys for Joy” Program while Sublimity Fire District members sponsor 50 families through the “Gift of Christmas Dinner” Program. Both Programs benefit the children and families of Stayton and Sublimity Fire Districts that need some extra special help during the holidays.
It was another record year for the Toys for Joy program as we were able to assist in providing parents with presents for 582 children this year. None of this would be possible without the support of our communities and the many volunteers that put in countless hours making sure everything runs smoothly. Through the generous supporters of the Santa Cruise Car Show & Breakfast, the many silent providers who dropped off toys or monetary donations, and the many businesses that provided a toy drop off location, we were able to provide some of the magic of Christmas during this wondrous season of giving.
The “Gift of Christmas Dinner” is sponsored by many community members and organizations (Foothills Church, United Methodist, Knights of Columbus, Sublimity FD, Calvary, and Santiam Hospital) each year and provides each family in need food to prepare a traditional Christmas Dinner. The “Gift of Christmas Dinner” is coordinated by the Stayton Resource Center in downtown Stayton and covered 235 families this year. Sublimity Fire District adopts about 50 families each year and provides them with a ham, pumpkin pie, milk, stuffing, gravy, and much more to make a perfect Christmas dinner. They raise funds each year through their annual “Turkey Shoot” and accept donations to purchase the food. They then box the food for each family and coordinate the delivery. Sublimity and Stayton Fire District volunteers then spend part of a drill night delivering the boxes to the families.
Of course none of this would be possible without the assistance of the Stayton Resource Center that screens each family for the different Christmas programs which makes it possible for us to reach those that need assistance. Rosa, along with her staff and volunteers, work diligently each year to make sure we are able to reach as many families as possible with some much needed Christmas cheer.
Thank You to everyone that had a little or big part in this year’s magic and we sincerely hope that you will participate again next year. Together we can make a difference…
