Greencastle firefighters help brighten Christmas for three children

Monday, December 24, 2012
Browsing the titles of Walmart's DVD selection, Greencastle firefighters (from left) Jeff Elkins, John Schafer, J.B. Brassard and John Burgess shop for Christmas presents for three underpriveleged local children. Elkins got the idea from his daughter Lauren and then took it to Chief Bill Newgent, who plans to make the department's Giving Tree sponsorship an annual event.

What better way to spread Christmas cheer than to give gifts to others? Especially to those less fortunate families that aren't able to afford the types of Christmas' we might be used to.

A Greencastle firefighter's daughter, Lauren Elkins, had this idea after watching a show on TV.

An idea devised by firefighter's daughter Lauren Elkins (front) took Greencastle Fire Department personnel (from left) Jeff Mace, J.B. Brassard, John Burgess, Chief Bill Newgent, Jeff Elkins, John Shafer and Rob Frank to Walmart on a Dec. 10 shopping excursion to buy gifts for three underprivileged local children.

Lauren spoke to her father Jeff Elkins, a Greencastle firefighter, about having the fire department do something for a needy family this year.

Jeff approached Chief Bill Newgent on the concept and he was all for it.

Newgent mentioned that Greencastle Christian Church and its Giving Tree program, in which a family or group can sponsor a child for Christmas.

Each firefighter donated a minimum of $10 toward this sponsorship, and they got together at Walmart on Monday, Dec. 10 to shop for three children they sponsored.

The cart was full of all sorts of different items including books, jeans, shirts and toys.

Walmart wanted to participate in the donations and did its part in giving 10 percent off the purchase.

This was a great experience for the department, its members, and their families to be able to come together and collect these gifts for the three sponsored children.

It is the first year GFD has done a donation of this nature during Christmas.

Chief Newgent said he still plans on continuing this special project each year.

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  • GFD always does great things for their community. We are very lucky to have them in our county.

    -- Posted by longtime resident on Mon, Dec 24, 2012, at 1:21 AM
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