City firefighters bring the Christmas cheer
20 December 2024
The Fire & Rescue Service brought early Christmas cheer to many children in homes and places of safety earlier today. With the generous support of Pick n Pay, the firefighters have started to hand over wrapped gifts to children at eight care facilities across the city.
The Fire & Rescue Service decided to pay forward the support it received from the public, businesses and NGOs last summer, when a number of devastating fires kept firefighters on the front lines.
This generous support in the form of sustenance donations allowed our Firefighters to get on with the business at hand – fighting all the fires which was experienced in our City.
The Chief Fire Officer (CFO) made a call for Fire Service Christmas Boxes to be filled with gifts, to members of the service, who immediately sprang into action.
‘While we cannot reach each person who supported us, we decided to give back to our communities in the form of a social outreach in recognition and thanks to the many donors from whom we receive support during our wildfire period,’ said CFO Clinton Manuel.
The call for donations from staff soon morphed into something even bigger than they could have hoped for, when Pick n Pay came on board to help fulfil all the Christmas wishes.
‘I am incredibly proud of this collaboration and what has been achieved. Santa may deliver in a sleigh on Christmas Eve, but our firefighters have just distributed gifts in their shiny red fire engines. This was cause for much excitement and delight, ensuring a festive and bright Christmas for many children in less fortunate circumstances,’ said the City’s Mayoral Committee Member for Safety and Security, Alderman JP Smith.
The homes that will be visited by the firefighters before Christmas are Heaven’s Nest in Ottery, Habibia Children’s Home in Rylands, Heartlands Baby Sanctuary in Somserset West, Little Angels Home in Somerset West, Luthando Orphanage and Child Care in Flamingo Vlei, Rainbow of Hope in Goodwood, South African Children’s Home in Gardens, and St George’s House in Wynberg.
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Published by:
City of Cape Town, Media Office
