Firefighters and other first responders give selflessly all year round...and the holidays are no different! This year, HAIX is partnering with the Nicholasville Fire Department, which has been making the holidays brighter for children in their small town for over 20 years.
Nicholasville, Kentucky is nestled just south of Lexington, and boasts a population of around 30,000. The fire department, which only a few years ago was made up of volunteers, now has 54 full-time firefighters in addition to support staff and administrators.
But a rapidly growing city hasn’t dampened their community spirit; if anything, it has made it stronger.
The Nicholasville Firefighter Toy Drive serves hundreds of families in Jessamine County every year. That means there are 700 to over 1,000 children that can get presents when their families may not otherwise be able to provide them. Their motto of “ANYTIME, ANYPLACE, ANYTHING” is a fitting reminder of a commitment to care, especially in these financially trying times.
We joined forces with NFD to support their work in their community, like they have supported our products for years. We placed a box in our showroom, with the chimney design reminding us of the opportunity to be someone’s Santa this holiday season! If you are local, toys can be dropped off at 2320 Fortune Drive in Lexington Monday to Friday between 8am and 5pm EST. We will be accepting toys until December 8th at 5pm. Every toy, no matter the value, is appreciated.
If you aren’t local to the Lexington area, have no fear! There are lots of opportunities to put a smile on a child’s face this holiday season. Many Police Departments have “Shop with a Cop”; a program whereby children get to go holiday shopping with a deputy or officer to buy gifts for themselves and/or the family. The U.S. marines has “Toys for Tots,” which serves more than 7 million children each year. The Salvation Army has the “Angel Tree” program where you can pick an ornament off the tree with a specific gift request for a specific child. These are just a few of the many ways to give to a child this season.
The Nicholasville Firefighters Toy Drive has several locations where people can drop off unwrapped toys, which will be distributed on December 17th. For more information, check out their Facebook page at https://www.facebook.com/NicholasvilleToyDrive/ or send them an email, [email protected].
No matter how you celebrate the holidays, take time to be thankful for what you have, enjoy the kindness of others, and stay safe!