Operation Christmas: Bolingbrook Firefighters Give from the Heart

The following news release was submitted by Alex Davis, Bolingbrook Fire Department; and Carol Penning, clerk, Village of Bolingbrook: 

For most of us, Christmas is a time to count our blessings and to enjoy our family, friends and good fortune. Yet for some, Christmas is an empty time of year, lacking these joys, these blessings of good fortune.

For the past thirteen years, the Bolingbrook Firefighters Local 3005 has helped out Operation Christmas. Operation Christmas continues to make a special effort each year, for the past 37 years, to ensure that every family who needs help receives it. Each Bolingbrook family is given two large gifts per child and any small gifts that have been donated. Last year Operation Christmas served over 500 families and anticipates there will be more with all the layoffs, people out of work and home loss.
 
With the challenges of the economy facing so many people today, many times it is the children that have to pay the price. This holiday season many children are going without presents and/or basic needs of food and warm clothing. The goal of Operation Christmas is to make sure that the children of Bolingbrook have a happy holiday.

A special thanks for the generous donations of large corporations like COTG- A Xerox Company; Advantage Chevrolet of Bolingbrook which received the 2013 Business of the Year Award from the Bolingbrook Chamber of Commerce; the Target Department Store of Bolingbrook; and Dan Bradley of Bradlink Ventures. Many Bolingbrook children and their families will now have a joyous Christmas - without a second thought that these businesses dug deep into their pockets and donated time and money to Operation Christmas.

For the past three years, a special Bolingbrook Company with a “big heart” COTG – A Xerox Company has partnered with the Bolingbrook Firefighters Local 3005, in what has now become an annual tradition, to shop together at a local retailer, purchasing toys that are immediately donated to Operation Christmas. Each year, COTG – A Xerox Company donates thousands of dollars for the annual shopping trip, which is solely raised by the generosity of their employees. We at the Bolingbrook Firefighters Local 3005 hope to continue this tradition for many more years to come.

Bolingbrook Firefighters Local 3005 is also giving their time and money to Operation Christmas. The firefighters would not let the children of Bolingbrook down and have been doing everything they can to make sure families in need have a wonderful holiday season.

Many times people forget what the true spirit of the season is about. I can honestly say that all of the people and businesses mentioned above remembered that “giving” is what this time of year is all about.