by
Anne-Claire Siegert
Staff writer
The Robesonian
Dec 25, 2012 | 3389 views | 0
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City Councilmen John Robinson, left, and John Cantey help Santa load presents onto a fire truck that will deliver the gifts to needy families in Lumberton as part of the Lumberton Fire Department's 10th annual Christmas Toys for Kids. Photos by Anne-Claire Siegert | The Robesonian
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Alica Jacobs helped her 2-year-old son Tayden Powers unwrap the gifts that Santa delivered to their home. The family received a football and a toy car as well as body wash.
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Tayden Powers gave Santa a high five as thank you for the gifts that he delivered Monday as part of the Lumberton Fire Department's 10th annual Christmas Toys for Kids.
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LUMBERTON — Santa came early this Christmas for some children in Lumberton as the big man traded in his sleigh for a firetruck and delivered presents to more than 400 children.
Actually, it was Lumberton firefighters, who also favor red, Fire Chief Paul Ivey, city Councilmen John Robinson and John Cantey and Santa himself who made the deliveries in four trucks to 168 families and 408 children. The presents were collected during the Lumberton Volunteer Firefighters Association’s annual Christmas Toys for Kids.
“We always wish we could have done more,” said Ivey, who was volunteering on his day off to help with the program. “The need is so great. Chief volunteers did an outstanding job getting the gifts.”
The effort, now in its 10th year, is part of the national Toys for Tots campaign, which was established by the Marine Corps in 1947 and provides presents to needy families all over the United States.
Money was raised by the firefighters who which collected $1,006 while stationed outside of Walmart on Fayetteville Road. Mayor Ray Pennington and the City Council also donated $2,200 from their discretionary funds to the program — a gift that also honored William Perry, who served as Santa for the Christmas Toys for Kids program for nine years before his recent death.
Bags were stuffed with tea sets and dolls for girls and footballs for boys, as well as body wash and other essentials for the family. Santa made his list and checked it twice, making sure the beneficiary families were not receiving aid from any other organization for the holidays.
The gift delivery, which lasted about five hours and included four firetrucks, provides two to three gifts per child 12 years old and younger. Families can choose whether to have the gifts delivered to their homes, or to pick them up in advance. The volunteers also bring extra gifts to give to curious, young onlookers.
“The extra gifts are for the kids that come out and are standing on the front porch looking at Santa,” said Cantey as he and Robinson helped load a firetruck.
Cantey and Robinson accompanied Santa in a Christmas caravan that also included Ivey. The first stop was on Freedom Street in Lumberton, where Alica Jacobs was holding her 2-year-old son Tayden Powers.
Jacobs wasn’t expecting Santa.
“They said that they had ran out of toys,” Jacobs said, “so I didn’t know that he was gonna get anything.”
As Tayden ripped open the festive blue bag that shrouded his gifts, he screamed in excitement.
“Ball,” he said as he nuzzled a foam football to his face. He also received a toy car.
Tayden, too shy to give Santa a hug, opted instead to give the jolly old elf a high five.
“Ho, ho, ho and merry Christmas,” Santa said to Tayden and his mother as he and his entourage headed toward their next delivery.
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