Because of a “soft spot in our hearts,” first responders of a non-law enforcement stripe have kept the Ellijay/Gilmer County Firefighters for Kids Christmas program going for 16 years. Battalion Chief Mike Dempsey of Gilmer Fire and Rescue began the effort in 2008.
“Two years ago he told us I’m going to let you guys take it over,” said Sgt. Katherine Evans, who spearheads the toy drive with Sgt. Emerald Goble. “But it’s not just us, it’s everyone else that helps and puts in an effort.”
Whereas Shop with a Hero, a program of the Ellijay Police Foundation, primarily covers children in grades three through five, the Firefighters for Kids Christmas sticks with its initial calling of providing toys for pre-K through second-grade students.
“We choose pre-K through second because they target the older grades,” explained Evans. “That way, no one gets left behind.”
Through fundraisers that include events, event sponsorship donations and also random giving, the firefighters raised around $61,000 to buy toys this year. During Apple Festival and other weekends, firefighters collected donations from motorist passers-by at Highland Center shopping area. Then in November, a golf tournament at Whitepath followed by a formal reception at The Falls of Blue Ridge (a wedding and retreat venue in Northcutt) raised even more funds.
A labor of love
By then, it’s about time to start buying toys.
“We kinda have to prepare Walmart when we’re coming with a two or three weeks’ notice, and they stock up and order extra tablets (a smaller version of iPads), extra riding toys, extra everything,” Evans said. “We get all the firefighters in different shifts and choose a date that fits everyone’s schedule to see as many people — as far as firefighters go — who want to join in and go shopping. We pretty much tell them, ‘Grab a buggy and go at it!’”
Out of 15 to 20 shoppers, many were new to the fire departments.
“They had never experienced this and it was fun to watch them grab a buggy and just go crazy!” she continued. “We had one new firefighter who shopped around an hour and asked if that was about it. I said, ‘Dude, you’ve got to be kidding!’ We spend six to seven hours in Walmart by the time we cash out.
This year we spent $41,000 and some change there in one day.”
By that’s not all.
“We turned around the very next day and spent close to $2,000 at Shoe Show,” added Evans. “We bought each school 30 pairs of shoes for their clothes closets. Then we spent another two grand at the Dollar Tree and we stuffed stockings because stockings were always my favorite thing to open as a kid! We bought toothbrushes and toothpaste, hair combs, coloring books, puzzles, everything that we could fit into a stocking.”
The secret part
After the shopping is completed, school personnel are contacted and a date is set for delivery.
“So we load up the trailers and the trucks,” she said. “There’s three gentlemen on the school maintenance team that helps us every year; they bring their box truck and we hit one school at a time on the same day. Once we do that (make delivery), the schools call the parents and they come and pick it up secretly and take it home — and every gift is from Santa or mom or dad or however they choose to divvy it up. So the fire departments stay in the background … we don’t want the younger kids to think we sponsored their Christmas.”
The city and county departments also drive their fire trucks to the elementary schools during the Christmas season so the kids can see them and interact with the firefighters.
“Walmart is another huge asset to our charity,” Evans noted. “They stock up on everything … and this year we bought 442 blankets, which was an entire pallet. We gave 75 blankets to each school, 100 to the warming center and 100 to the (county) animal shelter. This is our second year doing that, and they’re so, so grateful and excited that the dogs will get blankets. So we try to help everybody as best we can, and it really is one of the greatest charities I’ve ever been a part of.”
Deputy Chief Jason Bryant of Gilmer Fire is “amazed” at the generosity of the community to help kids at Christmas.
“That extends to the members of these department who give their own time so that others will have something for Christmas,” he said. “We have a soft spot in our hearts for children, and Sgt. Katherine Evans and Sgt. Emerald Goble have taken this organization farther than any of us thought it would go. I am beyond humbled to be part of such an amazing organization. Because of their leadership, there’s a lot of children in Gilmer County who will have an amazing Christmas!”
Evans echoed, “It’s such a good time, and a humbling experience. This charity has blessed this community a lot more than I can put into words.”