Santa, Firemen Give Helping Hand To Food Bank
Nine-year-old Andy Fazzari rushes out his front door, down the sidewalk and to the firefighters standing in the street. His eyes are riveted to the engine and its flashing red lights.
He barely notices strains of “The First Noel” filling the night air.
“Is there a fire?” he asks breathlessly.
“Santa’s here,” says Jerry Morris, a firefighter with Spokane County Fire District 9. He points to a lighted float towed by one of the fire trucks.
The jolly old fellow is at ease in an armchair, waving to children.
Through Dec. 23, Santa Claus, accompanied by volunteer firefighters from Spokane County Fire District 9, will visit North Side children, collecting canned food for the Spokane Food Bank and listening to Christmas dreams.
At the same time, children have a chance to meet their neighborhood firefighters and look at the trucks, ladders and engines.
Fazzari barely glances at the other neighborhood youngsters clambering onto Santa’s lap asking for horses, Nintendo games and Barbies.
He is focused on a firefighter’s outfit, especially the helmet. He moves the visor up and down. He asks about the fire engine.
He finally takes his turn with Santa, then waves to the firefighters and dashes back to the house.
The Santa-towing firetruck roars to the next neighborhood, lights flashing, carols blaring.
Youngsters and parents stream from their homes, clasping cans of food, giggling with excitement.
One family brings cookies for Santa and the firefighters.
Four-year-old Zach Hatchett stands before Santa like a soldier at attention. Santa asks him what he wants for Christmas.
“Batman,” he says, then stretches his mittened hands out wide: “Lots and lots and lots of them.”
The program is designed to help children feel comfortable with firefighters, in case there is an emergency at their home.
It seems to work.
After visiting Santa, Davy McClellan, 4, runs to firefighter Chris Wood for help.
“Can you open my candy cane for me?” he asks, reaching the wrapped confection up toward the fireman. , DataTimes ILLUSTRATION: Photo
MEMO: This sidebar appeared with the story: SANTA’S SCHEDULE Here is the schedule for Santa and Fire District 9. (Santa usually visits between 6:30 and 8:30 p.m. Times can change, depending on weather and emergency calls.) Dec. 13: Hawthorne Road area N.E. Dec. 14: Camelot and Forest Glen (Santa will be at Camelot between 5 and 6 p.m.) Dec. 16: Mead Royale Trailer Park. All sections Dec. 17: Mead west of Railroad, east of Market, south of Center, north or Peone ( including Meadowlark, Mountain View Mobile Home Park, Cascade Estates and Windsor Court); Whitworth area Dec. 18: Mead west of Market, east of Wilson, north of Florence, south of Center (including Carlson Court, Kasha Court and Heritage Estates) Dec. 19: Lower Linwood; East of Mead: west of Fairview, south of Farwell (including Peone Prairie Estates, Rolling Hills and Parksmith Road) Dec. 20: Shady Slope, Winger Road, Northwood Junior High, and Farwell Elementary; Nine Mile area, Hedin and Tormey Roads; Five Mile area Dec. 21: Seven Mile area (leaving station at 5:30 p.m.); Leave Station 96 at 6 p.m., traveling on Forker Road and stopping at intersections with Scribner, Foothills, Temple, Lincoln, and Moffat; Forest Hills Dec. 22: Upper Linwood (south of Wedgewood) Dec. 23: Lower Linwood (north of Wedgewood)