Firefighters helping with the holidays…

Wednesday, November 9, 2011

Anchorage Fire Fighters understand the importance of community support during the holiday season and continue doing their best to do their part in making sure everyone enjoys their Christmas. Here are some of the ways we give back:

It’s a familiar sound heard every Christmas as you walk through our area malls; the ringing of the Salvation Army Bells. Anchorage Fire Fighters kick off the season every year staffing kettles at three locations in the 5^th Avenue Mall on the busiest shopping weekend of the year. From its original beginnings as a fundraiser started by a Salvation Army captain in San Francisco in 1891, the Red Kettle Campaign has grown into one of the most recognizable and important charitable campaigns in the United States. As part of the campaign, more than 25,000 Salvation Army volunteers spread throughout the country to ring bells daily and solicit spare change donations to the iconic red kettles from holiday shoppers. So as you stroll through the malls this holiday season, remember to drop some extra change when you hear that bell.

Or maybe you might be familiar with our annual “Guns N Hoses” charity hockey game between firefighters and police officers raising money to help local organizations such as the Scotty Gomez Foundation. This successful match up, in its twelfth season, brings almost 2,500 fans to the Sullivan Arena every year. This year the game is trying something new as your firefighters and cops square off against the visiting Fairbanks Public Safety hockey team. You can be apart of this great event Sunday December 4th, contact the Scotty Gomez Foundation for more info.

Another way you might see firefighters giving back this season will be the ever popular “Santa Claus Express”. Firefighters covert a reserve fire engine in to Santa’s sleigh for 2 weeks every December allowing off duty firefighters to visit neighborhoods, children events, and gatherings up until Christmas Eve. The money for decorations, candy canes, and time are all donated by the firefighters participating. So keep your eyes and ears peeled for the sounds and sights that your firefighters provided as they deliver Santa atop a big red fire engine this Christmas.

You will also see Anchorage’s firefighters and police officers team up to host “Shop with a Cop and Firefighter”. This program allows the residents of local youth homes to take an afternoon and go shopping with their local police officers and firefighters. Money for the event is provided by Anchorage Fire Fighters Local 1264, Anchorage Police Departments Employee Association, and Fred Meyers giving each child a gift card to shop with. Every year firefighters and police officers are taken back as these young children continually pick items out for brothers, sisters, family members, and loved one’s showing again that this is the season for giving.

Finally, one of our most rewarding and less publicized events every Christmas season is our “Christmas Family” adoption program. Anchorage Fire Fighters Local 1264 donates money to every fire station affording the crews the opportunity to provide a Christmas for a family they select. These families are usually chosen through a church, a community, or even a family they have visited during a call. The firefighters deliver food and other necessities they feel the family might be lacking and of course it’s not at all uncommon for the firefighters to pitch in money of their own providing a few extra packages to place under the tree.

Enjoy the Holidays and be safe! From your Anchorage Fire Fighters.