Firefighters "Make a Child Smile" in Holiday Tradition

Escorted by Colton Fire Department fire trucks, lights and sirens blaring, 50 Colton Joint Unified School District elementary students arrived by bus to Wal-Mart on Mt. Vernon Avenue in Colton on Dec. 12 to partake in a holiday tradition 19 years in the making. "This is a really wonderful event that we all look forward to every year," said Katie Orloff, a spokesperson for the school district. The Colton Fire Department heads the annual event which provides $100 each to students who are taken on a holiday shopping spree in December. The fire department fundraises and gathers volunteers who include firefighters, Colton city leaders and community members to take the children shopping at the Wal-Mart in Colton. Each year the fire department sponsors children who alternate from each of the school district's eight elementary schools, which serves students living in Colton and Grand Terrace. "Over the past 19 years, with the help from local sponsors, we...have raised over $80,000 and helped over 800 children," stated a release issued by the Colton Fire Department spokesperson Capt. Tom De Bellis. Beginning at 8:50 a.m. on the morning of Dec. 12, the students were transported via school bus to Colton Fire Station 211, where firefighters then led the caravan of buses to the Wal-Mart, with the help of Colton police who blocked the streets. Santa Claus and city officials led the way into the parking lot and children were each escorted by a firefighter around Wal-Mart. Following the shopping spree, each student enjoyed a lunch provided by McDonalds. Though it rained outside, the parade was still on. "The kids had a good shopping experience," said Capt. De Bellis. "We had a lot of our retirees who showed up again this year to volunteer and help out. It always kind of makes Christmas when you can help these young kids out."