The Logan Emergency Services Santa Run will again be hitting the streets to provide underprivileged and hospitalised children with toys, gifts and the Christmas spirit.
A convoy of vehicles – fire trucks, ambulances, police cars, police buggies and others – will leave Woodridge Fire and Rescue Station at 8am on Christmas morning and make their way towards Logan Hospital, stopping through many streets on the way.
The man organising the run, QFES’ Logan Area Commander Desmond Adams, said this year’s route was the same as last year’s.
He said it was a vital service for disadvantaged children in Logan.
“The run was organised because all the agencies – police, ambulance, fire, SES, and urban and rural fire rescue – wanted to come together and make an effort for the local community and the disadvantaged areas throughout Logan,” Mr Adams said.
“We will drive through certain neighbourhoods in Logan and hand out presents and lollies, show the kids all the trucks and vehicles, and Santa will come along as well.
“We travel to Logan Hospital where we go up to the children’s unit and do the same thing for those poor kids who can’t be home over Christmas – we go deliver presents up there with Santa.”
Mr Adams said it could be hard for “those of us who haven’t experienced that sort of disadvantage” to understand the joy the Santa Run brings.
“If you have an illness and you can’t be at home with the family over Christmas, it can be very distressing, especially for the young ones,” he said.
“And also, for those who are not able to provide presents for their kids – this will give them a little ray of hope.”
Emergency service mascots, PCYC cadets and other community groups will also be part of the convoy.
“Even if it’s just to watch Santa, and the fire trucks and police cars go past, all the kids enjoy it,” he said.
“And from all the agencies I’ve spoken to, all the service people love it as well.”
This is the fifth year of the run and was created in 2019 by Woodridge Fire and Rescue Services senior firefighter Scott Edwards.
In the past there have been $15,000 of toys donated and over 400 volunteers helping out.
The current plan is for the convoy to travel through around 20 streets before stopping at the ADRA Community Centre at Logan Central, where Santa will hand presents to local youth.
The convoy will then travel through 30 more streets, headed for Logan Hospital.
