Yukon Firefighters Deliver Holiday Cheer

Yukon firefighters hit the streets Friday not to douse flames, but to ignite the holiday spirit for families in need.

The holiday season shows the culmination of a year-long fundraising effort in Yukon, helping the fire department provide hundreds of dollars in groceries for six families. The project has been ongoing for eight years. Firefighters work with school counselors to identify those who need it most.

They also donate gifts to put under the tree.

“Christmas presents are either usually the Santa’s toyshop or we get some help from our church,” said father of three Justin Eck.

To top it off, the firefighters delivered a bonus $200 gift card for each family.

Cpl. Jeremy Goodrich said, “I don’t want kids and I don’t want families to be miserable during the best day of the year in my opinion, on Christmas Day.”

This is the second time firefighters have helped mother of two Alexus Allenbach, just in the past week. After losing her car in a fire, the department donated two new car seats for her sons.

Now, Allenbach is looking forward to spreading the love.

“It makes me want to give back,” Allenbach said, “like I’ve been wanting to go work at the shelter and just go give back as much as I can.”

The firefighters say they are the ones who truly receive the benefit, and seeing the smiling faces makes it all worth it.

Goodrich said, “The reaction, it’s so great. I don’t know, it hits you in the heart. It’s the best part of the holidays.”

The fire department accepts monetary donations for this project all year long if you'd like to help next year's lucky families.