Santa’s elves can’t be everywhere ? that’s why the big guy in the extra large red suit keeps the Addison Twp. Fire Department on speed-dial.
Firefighters gathered at Station #1 in Leonard Dec. 19 to wrap the mountain of Christmas gifts they purchased for local families in need using monies from their annual Goodfellow Newspaper Sale.
A total of $3,848 was raised during the first weekend of December as firefighters braved the cold and traffic to sell more than 2,000 copies of The Oakland Press.
The money was enough to buy a mix of toys, necessities and clothing for 15 needy families with approximately 46 children.
‘Most of the kids are getting clothes (with their toys),? said EMT Angela Mallory, who organized all the shopping.
‘I saw a lot of boots and gloves and coats,? said Firefighter John Beach, who noted this was the most money the Goodfellow drive has ever raised and the largest number of people it’s ever helped at one time.
On top of plenty of packages, many of the families received a $100 gift card to Meijer. All of the families reside in Addison with the exception of one, a Pontiac family who lost their home to a fire.
Mallory was particularly grateful to the Kohl’s in Shelby Township and one of the store’s managers, Jean Madden (wife of Firefighter Elmo Madden), for all her help. ‘She set aside a lot of the clearance stuff for us,? Mallory said.
Madden also gave Mallory a coupon for 15 percent off, which she was able to use on top of a storewide 40-percent-off sale.
‘Kohl’s gave us great deals,? she said. ‘I basically bought probably about 25 kids sets of clothes for not even $400.?