Christmas for Kids

Tell City firefighters joined hands with Santa Claus Saturday to brighten the holiday for 20 local youngsters, delivering presents to wide-eyed children. In turn, parents and even firefighters wiped the occasional moist eye.

Vince Luecke

Jayden and Elijah Burrows pose with Santa, who delivered gifts to the two brothers.

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Vince Luecke

Reserve firefighter Ryan Daum with an armful of gifts for a child.

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Vince Luecke

Tell City Fire Chief Greg Linne, loaded with presents, leads Santa and fellow firefighters during Saturday's distribution of gifts to 20 youngsters.

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Vince Luecke

A new bicycle, hand-delivered by Santa Claus, brightened Christmas for a local boy Saturday. Tell City firefighters enlisted St. Nick to deliver gifts purchased through the department's Christmas for Kids program. Contributions allowed firemen to purchase

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Vince Luecke

Tell City firefighters pose with Santa and 5-year-old Trent Moore after presenting him a bicycle and other presents. Firefighters, from left, Lynn Wooldridge, Steve Hauser, Jason Linne, Greg Linne, Don Litherland, Ryan Daum, Joe Troutman, Dave Briggeman,

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It was the fifth year for the department’s Christmas for Kids project. Firefighters raised money at area stores, placing out their boots and asking customers to fill them with donations. Other contributions come from people in the community, Chief Greg Linne said, including sizable gifts from two families.

Santa, taking time out of his busy schedule, traded in his open sleigh for a heated fire truck as firefighters delivered gifts Saturday.

The caravan of fire trucks turned heads as firefighters visited homes, delivering gifts and posing for photos.

"Are these all for me?" one boy asked, open-mouthed after Santa walked through the door, followed by firefighters bearing brightly wrapped presents

In addition to gifts, each family received a ham to add to their holiday meal and a smoke detector and batteries.