Santa had some help from local firefighters this holiday season, when he was driven around in fire trucks so that he could make some early deliveries of gifts. The program is a fundraiser for the participating volunteer fire companies.

Santa Deliveries launched in 2022, with Newtown Hook & Ladder Fire Company #1 and Botsford Fire Rescue collaborating on that first effort. Dodgingtown Volunteer Fire Company No 1 had its own holiday plans that year, but joined the other two companies by 2024. Hawleyville Volunteer Fire Company also did its own fundraiser for a few years, but this year all four companies worked together on Santa Deliveries.

Hook & Ladder Firefighter Rachael Gindraux said 2025 “was a major step” with that additional company joining the effort.

“With Hawleyyille joining us we were able to have one centralized process for all residents in town,” she said.

As in years past, the deliveries were open to all residents in town, including Sandy Hook.

“As I always share, Sandy Hook sells trees,” Gindraux said, referring to a fundraiser that’s been done by Sandy Hook Volunteer Fire & Rescue for many years, “and we bring the presents.”

Those who register to have Santa visit their home on a fire truck are asked to offer a $25 donation for each gift being delivered. Those donations are eventually divided among the four participating fire companies.

Registration for the fundraiser 2025 opened in mid-October, with parents invited to select a night to expect the arrival of Santa. By mid-November, the routes and schedules were confirmed.

Parents were also asked to drop the wrapped and tagged gifts for their children at Hook & Ladder’s firehouse on November 18, creating one central point for everything to be organized.

Four weeks later the fun started. Santa Deliveries opened on December 16, and continued with three-hour windows on December 17 and 19-23.

Gindraux said multiple trucks were used to make the deliveries, which went to over 350 houses.

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Managing Editor Shannon Hicks can be reached at shannon@thebee.com.