This past weekend, Portage firefighters spread a little Christmas joy to 22 local kids by offering them the opportunity to shop with a firefighter. The program provides kids in need the opportunity to get clothes and toys during the holiday season. Started 11 years ago, the program is one of the joys for Portage Firefighters. “It brings the greatest amount of joy [to the firefighters], to be able to help people when there’s a crisis in their lives,” said Firefighter Teresa Janovitz.
Leading up to the shop day, the Fire Department collected donations of clothes and needed items at Station 1. Parents of the kids were invited to come in and get what they needed for their kids and themselves. Each family was also provided with a turkey dinner, courtesy of the Portage Fire Department.
The day of the shopping, each kid was given $100 to spend on needed items, clothes, shoes, or toys. Some of the kids chose to buy Christmas presents for their family in lieu of spending on themselves. The kids were transported to Wal-Mart in ambulances, to make the experience even more exciting. Each child was then accompanied around the store by a firefighter, to help make their purchases. Many of the firefighters ended up giving the kids money out of their own pockets, on top of their $100, in the holiday spirit.
The day continued back at the station. Brad and Julie Sharp, of Schoops, donated food for the kids, along with pizza for the adults donated by JJ’s Pizza and Pizza Hut. Help with wrapping was provided for those kids who bought presents for their family. Afterwards, the firefighters helped take home those who couldn’t get there on their own, via another ambulance ride.
More than just offering help to those in need, this program “gives kids an opportunity to see us (firefighters) outside of a “scary” environment,” said Janovitz. The kids see the firefighters outside of their work gear, get to know them as moms, dads, brothers, sister, nice, good people, so if and when the “scary” situations occur, they will trust those who have come to help.