The Lebanon Rescue Department encourages residents to invite Santa to their house on Friday, December 23. Santa and his elves will be driving around in the ambulances delivering one gift to every child age 1-16 that would like to get one. Santa will drop off a wrapped gift to each child, thanks to Santa’s helpers. Lebanon Girl Scouts will help wrap the gifts for Santa to hand out.
“This is our first year chauffeuring Santa around town to deliver a gift to the children in town,” said Chief Samantha Cole. “We have been very fortunate to have such great community support and this is another way for the rescue volunteers to thank the community for their support of our department over the past thirty years. We are really excited to get out into the community with Santa and see the children.”
This is part of the rescue department’s holiday programs being offered. Rescue volunteers collected and donated several large thanksgiving baskets to Lebanon families. The Department is also once again collecting Coats for Kids, a program where residents can donate new or used coats, snow pants, hats and mittens to help children have a warmer winter. Last year, 857 coats were collected and donated. Lebanon Rescue is also collecting new toys for Operation Santa. The toys are donated to children in Lebanon who have suffered a traumatic event, like a loss of a parent or families with financial hardships.
Any family that would like Santa to drop off a present for their child is encouraged to contact the rescue department by calling (207) 608-5615. You can also email us at operationsanta@lebanonrescue.com. Each family that requests a toy will receive an age appropriate toy for their child. There are no eligibility requirements for Operation Red Light; it is open to any Lebanon child.
“We cannot thank the community enough for their support to allow us to do programs like this. It is the best feeling seeing the kids so happy to receive a toy, or a new coat. We are very fortunate to live in such a great community,” Chief Samantha Cole added.
The rescue department continues to collect new, unwrapped toys for Operation Santa through December 24 and new or used coats, snow pants, snow suits, hats and gloves through December 31 for the Coats for Kids campaign. There are three drop-off locations, including Kenney Automotive located at the corner of Little River Road and Carl Broggi Highway, at Train’s Quick Stop located at 245 Carl Broggi Highway and a large blue donation box at the rescue station located at 1524 Carl Broggi Highway. Additionally, monetary donations are needed to buy gifts and coats. You can make a secure online donation by clicking on the picture of Santa at www.lebanonrescue.com or by sending a donation to Lebanon Rescue, 323 Depot Road, Lebanon, Maine 04027.
Anyone with questions can contact Chief Samantha Cole at (207) 608-5615.
