By Justin Eger
reprinted with permission of the author
 
It is a simple reality that this year has been a difficult one for
many people. With a struggling economy, lots of lost jobs, and
escalating prices on just about everything, its a sure bet that some
families were struggling to get through the year, let alone guarantee
a good Christmas for their families. However, some families in the
Gallitzin area got a little help in just a few days before Christmas,
as the Gallitzin Volunteer Fire Company and a local business spent a
night giving Santa a little help.

Just two days before Christmas, a small group of volunteers within the
Gallitzin Volunteer Fire Company worked with the recently opened
Dollar General store in town to deliver a number of toys to good
little girls and boys throughout the area. Firefighter Mike Sanders
explained that Dollar General had originally started a collection in
the store itself, arranging a Toys for Tots-like bin and inviting
customers at the store to make donations if they were able, with the
guarantee that the gifts would go to families in need in the Gallitzin
area. People from town were very giving, and the bin was quickly
filled with gifts, so many that the volunteers who helped with the
event were even a little unsure what to do with them all. Some were
presented to families in need through the Angel Tree donations
organized by the Gallitzin Area Ambulance Service, but there were
still plenty of items left over, and that’s where the firefighters
stepped in.

Sanders said that, though it was a little last minute, he contacted
the St. Vincent de Paul Society and asked if they knew of families who
might be in need of a little help this Christmas. Provided with a list
of addresses and whether or not there were boys or girls in the home,
the firefighters put together a series of gift bags for those
families, planning to take them around  for delivery on December 23,
the night before Christmas Eve.

However, no special Christmas delivery would be complete without
Santa, so the firefighters arranged a pre-Christmas Eve visit from the
Jolly One himself, and offered to take Santa around on the fire engine
to visit with the good boys and girls in Gallitzin and Tunnelhill.
With a quick stop at Dollar General to once again thank the business,
and the people of the area, for their generosity, the firefighters and
their helpers took off with Santa around town, with Lt. Harry Reger of
the Gallitzin Borough Police Department doing his best Rudolph
impersonation, guiding the gift-givers through the cold winter’s night
in the police crusier, with his partner Arko at his side.

The visits easily put smiles on more than a few faces around town, and
the firefighters hope to bring similar joy again next Christmas.

Left to Right: Fire Chief Jim Nagle, Gallitzin Police Officer Lt. Harry Reger, Dollar General Representatives Marcia and Mindy, Assistant Chief Mike Sanders, Santa Claus, Junior Firefighter Kim Sanders and Resident Charlie Knee. Photo by Justin Eger