Johnston firefighters union continues season of giving

When it comes to charitable giving, the Johnston Association of Firefighters are in a league of their own.

So much so, in fact, for the second time in three weeks, Local 1950 played Super Santa for its annual and highly-successful Adopt-A-Family for Christmas.

“We take giving back to the community very seriously,” said veteran JFD Battalion Chief Richard Boehm. “Every firefighter on the job contributes money out of their checks weekly for this valuable, meaningful and much-needed program.”

For example, Local 1950 purchased a total of $2,500 in gift cards for families to purchase toys and food at Wal-Mart, Target and Stop & Shop.

Likewise, PetSmart made what Boehm called “an extraordinary and unbelievable donation of stuffed animals!”

As equally impressive is that Local 1950, which has a reputation for being the most generous giving firefighters union in the state, has been a tradition with the Johnston Firefighters for 20 years and as Boehm said with a satisfying smile on his ace: “Our Adopt-A-Family program continues to grow every year.”

While the Adopt-A-Family program helps families with children who are in need — especially during the holiday season — it’s also a warm, wonderful and rewarding act of seasonal giving that makes Christmas merry for representatives from Winsor Hill and Thornton elementary schools in Johnston.

Take Dina Needham, a popular teacher who coordinates the Food Cupboard at Winsor Hill School, who Boehm called “a true rock star for those in need and she makes sure everyone gets a little something special.”

Needham and Selene Clark, a social worker from Thornton Elementary School, made a special trip to Johnston Fire Department headquarters on Atwood Avenue to accept countless children’s toys and the gift certificates.

Local 1950’s generosity reached an all-time high when it took a reserve JFD rescue and another oversized vehicle to collect a myriad of gifts people brought to the annual Toys for Toys Party held for the second time in as many years at Stephanie Harris’ Strings Bar & Grill on George Waterman Road in Johnston.