For over a decade, the Cortez Fire Protection District has sponsored local families in need to make sure they have a warm meal in their bellies and presents to open during the holiday season.
To make it happen, Cortez Fire personnel set aside part of every paycheck – usually $5 to $10 – which adds up in a fund throughout the year, said Captain Gabriel Rogers, who first started organizing the occasion a year ago.
Come November, they see how much money that fund has accumulated, then decide how many families they can sponsor. Battalion Chief Rick Spencer said that number is usually between three and five families.
This year, they’re able to sponsor three families.
Rogers said the family fills out a form and gives the fire department a list of needs children have, as well as any special interests or hobbies, to make shopping a bit easier.
The weekend before Christmas, Cortez Fire personnel and their families get together and have a “big wrapping party.” On Monday, Santa and the three sponsored families will meet at the Cortez Fire Protection District on Washington Street to get their presents.
Walmart, City Market or Safeway also donate “a traditional Christmas meal” like turkey and mashed potatoes, Spencer said.
“This year, City Market is donating a Christmas dinner to each family, and Safeway is donating some gift cards,” Rogers said. “Carrying on the tradition is important. It’s passed through a couple of different hands in the department over the last few years.”
Captain Chad Daniels started the tradition over a decade ago, and he passed it off to former CFPD employees.
Rogers picked it up and is excited to do it again this year, since he’s at CFPD to stay.
Spencer also said that giving back and ensuring families “get to have a Christmas” motivates the department to do it year after year.
