On Saturday, a group of local first responders brought holiday cheer to residents of two group homes in Effingham.
Fire and Iron Station 64 motorcycle club visited Wetherell Place and Effingham Terrace, passing out bags filled with goodies and singing Christmas carols.
Residents couldn’t wait to see what was in the bags, but what excited them even more was the personal visit from “Santa Claus.”
This year marked the first time the club has visited the homes after staff member Lexie Kaufman gave them the idea.
“For Christmas, quite a few of them don’t get to go home,” she said. “So, to make it special for all of them, they raised money to get all this stuff in these little baggies, and they can enjoy it all to hopefully have a better Christmas, especially with the past two years of COVID.”
Kaufman noted it had been a while since the residents were able to enjoy such a visit.
“I’ve been here for three years, and they haven’t had somebody come in and sing like this,” she said.
Wetherell Place resident Melvin Rogers thought the club did a good job. He looks forward to Christmas; that and New Year’s are his favorite holidays. He liked receiving the goody bag, especially the toothpaste, toothbrush and hand soap.
Resident James Swofford liked everything he got. He especially liked the coloring book and crayons, since he likes to color.
“I even like the hand soap and the toothpaste,” he said. “I need it.”
Christmas is also his favorite time of year because he receives Christmas cards.
“I put them up in my bedroom,” he said.
As Jamison Lackey spread his goodies on the dining table, he said his favorites were Oreos and bubble gum.
Fire and Iron Station 64 plans to continue to spread holiday cheer this season by visiting a nursing home, which they did last year. They also help make the season brighter for kids through their Fill the Boot Ride fundraiser.
“We choose a different fire department each year, and then they choose the children, and then we do our ride, get the donations, and then we take those kids shopping for Christmas,” explained member Pam Heuerman.
The kids get to ride on a firetruck to Walmart, and a week before Christmas, the group brings their families meals.
But their charitable giving extends beyond the holidays. The nearly 10-year-old club raises money for a local college scholarship and has raised money for St. Jude Children’s Hospital.
They also keep adding new charitable causes. During Halloween, they helped hand out candy at the Harley Barn. In January, they will deliver dog cots to local animal shelters.
“Plus, if there is a benefit for somebody, we try to give money for that, too. We help in any way we can,” said member Crystal Vogt.
Fire and Iron Station 64 consists of current and retired firefighters and paramedics from Effingham and the surrounding area. While Station 64 is local, Fire and Iron has 3,000 members nationwide.
The local 14-member group raises money through motorcycle poker runs throughout the year. They also throw in a bake sale to help raise money.
What members like most is seeing the reactions from the people they are giving to, who are always excited.
“It’s like that no matter what age you are doing, who you’re giving money to,” said Heuerman.