For decades the Fallston Volunteer Fire and Ambulance Company has had the privilege of watching generations of Fallston families meet and greet Santa in their neighborhood, down the street, and yes…even on their front porch at times! Each year the challenge for our members to continue this tradition seems initially insurmountable, but by December 1 we have plans in place to see that the big guy in the red suit has enough evenings set aside from his busy pre-Christmas schedule to help us make it happen for our community!! This year was no different. In fact, through the efforts of our extremely motivated officers, members, and a few local citizens we have even expanded our efforts and activities throughout the holiday season to include visits to commercial establishments as well as neighborhoods along the edge of our district. Mutual aid with our adjacent Fire and EMS companies goes beyond emergency responses, as we gladly assist each other providing all types of assistance and support to the communities we serve. We were able to complete the Santa visits to all neighborhoods in Fallston and the adjacent areas and locations as requested prior to December 20th this year!!
For 2018, The FVFAC also initiated our very first Toys for Tots collection drive in association with the Marine Corps Reserve and Marine Toys for Tots with a planned drive through toy drop off held on December 8th at our Carrs Mill Road Station. This event was also very successful thanks to the generosity of our community members, as well as the efforts of our officers and members.
We have been asked “How can you keep doing this year after year?” Well, it’s been said that the Fire Service can be described as “over 200 years of tradition unimpeded by progress”. Santa runs, as we call them, are the second longest tradition within the FVFAC. (The longest tradition of the FVFAC is having yellow fire apparatus.) Beyond the traditional aspect, there are operational benefits also. Some of these benefits include…Each evening from December 1 at least until Santa visits are completed, we have at a minimum, 2 fire suppression units and 1 EMS unit staffed for immediate emergency responses. We have apparatus drivers and fire officers who use these evening trips to better familiarize themselves with the roads, water sources, and new developments in our district. Our members gain a better understanding of our community through the hundreds of face to face interactions with our citizens. In an all volunteer organization, these are all invaluable positive actions.
So, having completed all of our community Christmas activities, the Officers and Members of the FVFAC would like to say MERRY CHRISTMAS!!! to all, and THANK YOU for your ongoing and unwavering support of our Company! We wish all a happy and fire safe holiday season!!
