Santa listens to a boy’s Christmas wishes during a visit to Dracut Fire Headquarters on Sunday morning. (Courtesy Dracut Fire Department) 
Santa greets a young man while holding his curious sister on his lap. (Courtesy Dracut Fire Department) 
Retired Dracut Fire Alarm Operator and Lowell Police Dispatcher Steve Paris, at right, volunteered to get photos of Santa with families who visited. (Courtesy Dracut Fire Department) 
Dracut children were able to check out fire apparatus while visiting the station to see Santa Claus. (Courtesy Dracut Fire Department) 
Members of the Dracut Fire Department stand with Santa before the Jolly Ole Elf left the station. (Courtesy Dracut Fire Department) 
Santa Claus waves as he rides away from the station on Dracut’s 1948 Diamond-T Fire Engine. (Courtesy Dracut Fire Department)
DRACUT — Santa Claus paid a visit to Dracut Fire Headquarters on Sunday morning to spend time with Dracut children and to lend his assistance to an effort to collect toys for local families in need this holiday season.
The Jolly Old Elf got a ride to and from the station on the Dracut Fire Department’s 1948 Diamond T Fire Engine, sat for photos, and listened to children’s Christmas wish lists. Dracut firefighters provided cookies and snacks. Families were able to check out fire apparatus inside the station during the visit.
Retired Dracut Fire Alarm Operator and Lowell Police Dispatcher Steve Paris volunteered to take photos of families with Santa.
Families who attended were asked to bring a new, unwrapped toy for Toys for Local Children, a local organization that provides toys for families in need during the holiday season.
“Support for our annual toy drive has been wonderful this year, with over 1,000 toys already delivered to Toys for Local Children thanks to generous support from Town Hall and the Centralville Sportsmen’s Club,” said Lt. Joel Howard, who coordinates the efforts. “Our efforts to collect new, unwrapped toys remains ongoing, and anyone interested in contributing can bring a toy to the fire station. On behalf of the entire Dracut Fire Department, I want to thank the community for supporting our efforts to make the holidays brighter for those in need.”
About Toys for Local Children:
Toys for Local Children is a Somerville-based non-profit organization that distributes toys to children in Middlesex and Essex counties. Some of the toys will be retained by Dracut firefighters for distribution to children in Dracut who are in need, and children whose families have experienced losses due to fires.
To learn more about Toys for Local Children, click here.