Hobart firefighters turned Santa’s helpers last week, piling large bags full of presents and brand new bikes into their department vehicles and delivering them to needy families around the city.
This has become an annual tradition; one that Assistant Fire Chief John Reitz said the department is happy to do.
“This is an unbelievable feeling to be able to help people in a year such as one that we’ve had. A lot of people have suffered extraordinary hardship. It warms our hearts to be able to provide a little bit of joy,” Reitz said.
The fire department has been bringing some of the gifts purchased with donations made through Hobart Tri Kappa’s City-Wide Giving Tree to their various destinations since the program’s inception 19 years ago, Tri Kappa member Theresia Larimore said. Larimore said this year the organization was able to purchase gifts for more than 500 children, many of whom are first-time recipients.
“I do think the need was different this year. There were a lot of different families that weren’t part of the program before,” she said, noting some parents have been laid off due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
Larimore said churches, schools and the Hobart Food Pantry, of which she is director, provide names of needy children in the community. She said parents make out a list and most of the wishes are granted, within reason. In addition to its Angel Trees that are placed in different areas around the city, the Hobart Tri Kappa holds fundraisers and receives sponsorships and donations. While the pandemic caused difficulties with some of the organization’s traditional fundraising events, like the annual Bingo fundraiser that had to be cancelled, Larimore said sponsorships stepped up more than ever this year.
“We had a lot more monetary donations. In the end, it all worked out,” she said. “Every child on the list received a gift.”
Pam Broadaway, who owns Trailblazers Bike Barn in Hobart with her husband Joe Broadaway, donated 14 of the 35 bikes donated altogether.
“I was over the top overwhelmed when I saw all the items that were donated being organized and lovingly packaged for parents and families to pick up,” Broadaway said.
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