Shoreline Firefighters are playing Santa - and need your help

From now until December 13, off-duty Shoreline Firefighters are busy "playing Santa" in order to provide a joyful Christmas to low-income families in Shoreline.

The Fire Department gets lots of calls at this time of year from residents wanting to "adopt a family", or provide gifts to needy children. The way to do that in Shoreline is to support the Shoreline School District's Holiday food drive and/or donate to the Shoreline Firefighters' Free Toy Store that is open to qualifying families and arranged through the Shoreline School District.

What's the best way to help? This year firefighters are asking for cash donations to the toy fund -- in addition to the usual request for newly-purchased, unwrapped toys. As the years go by, the Toy Store gets stocked with lots of wonderful gifts for infants and younger children -- but there are few appropriate gifts for children over the age of 8.

"We would love to be able to buy more appropriate gifts for older children, such as bicycles, computer games, and other popular items that these kids dream of having", says IAFF Local 1760 President Gabe Debay. Debay heads up the long-time tradition now, though the "Shoreline Christmas" project has been part of Fire Department holidays for more than 30 years.

Cash donations can be made to the toy drive in person at any Shoreline Fire Station, or during the purchased toy event at Fred Meyer on Saturday, December 7. If your organization is thinking of fundraising to provide cash donations, Shoreline Firefighters will try to make an appearance at your event to encourage participation.

Call Shoreline Fire's Community Services Officer, Melanie Granfors, 206-349-7074, if you have questions about how or what to donate to Shoreline Christmas.

"And from all of us at Shoreline Fire, thank you to our generous, caring and supportive citizens.  We are proud to serve you!"