Santa Express

BY:Rae Lynn Payton

Looking for a way to help children in need locally during the holiday season? Reach out to your local Moore fire station. The Moore Fire Department’s Santa Express helps hundreds of children by working with the counselors in Moore Public Schools to ensure families that are struggling can have gifts under their tree at Christmas.

Counselors refer children and families in need to the fire department, and then firefighters volunteer to shop, package, organize and bag gifts up in preparation for pick-up. Families will begin to pick up their items toward the end of the second week of December. The firefighters keep their hard work discreet so families can maintain that element of surprise come Christmas Day and also not draw attention to themselves.

“Our goal is to help, not to point it out,” Assistant Fire Marshall Darren Sigmen explained.

Gifts may range from clothes and food to toys and makeup, depending on the child. In light of the pandemic, many items will likely be essentials, given this year’s hardships for many families.

“This is a year where a lot of people are in need,” Sigmen said and pointed out that the program includes children of all ages.

One heartfelt story Sigmen shared described a woman whose family had benefited from Moore’s Santa Express for four years while fighting cancer and losing her job. After healing and getting a new job, she now contributes to the cause each year.

“We help people get through and get back,” he said.

Firefighters are deeply involved and many donate throughout the year to the program out of their own paychecks. Several local businesses and community members donate as well.

“We have a heart for people and for those in need,” shared Sigmen.

It’s a group effort. Hundreds of volunteer hours are devoted to making their Santa Express possible and Sigmen is grateful for the help given to them by the community and the Moore school system.

“It’s amazing to see people give, and when they give we’re able to help other people. It’s a great cycle,” he said.“It started about 35 years ago with just a few gifts.”

Firefighter Charles Mosely saw a need back then and found a way to meet it. The program has only continued to grow. With Sigmen now in charge of coordinating the effort, they served about 450 children last year alone.

The Moore Fire Department’s Santa Express is a non-profit, and all efforts are volunteer. The program relies completely on donations, which can be dropped off or mailed to their main station at 2400 S. Fritts Blvd. in Moore. New items and monetary donations are welcome. -19SM