Cooperative Living November/December 2023 - 13

COOPERATIVE FOCUS
" I became a volunteer so that I could
give back to the community that gave
so much to me. So to see that what
we do impacts so many people, it's
an awesome feeling. "
- Daniel DeHart, Southside Electric
Cooperative member
fiolunteer firefighter Daniel DeHart and his wife
fifififififi, and son, Lfififi, pose with Santa.
Laura East, a resident in the district
served by Fine Creek and a member of
Southside Electric Cooperative, says,
" The Santa Run is such a fun community
experience that my kids and I look
forward to every year. It's a tradition
that my kids will remember forever as
part of the holiday season. "
FOR A GOOD CLAUS
The Santa Runs provide volunteer
firefighters the opportunity to get out
into the communities that are in their
district and engage with the people
that they serve.
" We get to meet them on a day
that's not the worst day of their life, "
says Walker, who is a Southside Electric
Cooperative member.
" It helps us show the families and
children in the neighborhood that
there's nothing to be afraid of when we
come to help them, and that they can
always rely on us, " explains David
Milazzo, assistant chief at Fine Creek.
For 10-year-old Tessa East, the Santa
Tessa
come
elps
trust
in
the
Runs have become synonymous with the
holidays. It also helps foster a sense of
nonymous with the
familiarity with and trust in those who
may one day need to come to her aid.
" It helps seeing fire trucks come to our
street when nothing bad is happening.
So when an emergency happens, I don't
feel as scared, " she says.
me to her aid.
cks
pp
to our
is happening.
s, don
Nora Hurt, the 7-year-old daughter
ofSouthside Electric Cooperative
ar-old daughter
rative
members and residents in the district
in the district
co-opliving.com
Tim Lawson, district chief of the
Huguenot Volunteer Fire Department
serserved byHuguenot, says, " It is fun to
by
hear the sirthe sirens and see the red lightsg
coming down the street and waving to
Santa. I like that I get to see Santa before
Christmas because it makes me happy
and excited for the holidays. "
Daniel DeHart, a Southside Electric
Cooperative member, has been
volunteering for Huguenot for five years.
DeHart has fought fires and rescued
kittens, but escorting Santa Claus
through town is the highest honor for
the father of two. " I became a volunteer
so that I could give back to the
community that gave so much to me. So
to see that what we do impacts so many
people, it's an awesome feeling, " he says.
MAKING A LIST,
CHECKING IT TWICE
A lot of work goes into pulling off
the much-anticipated event. At Fine
Creek, it starts with a list. " Our Santa
Runs go for six consecutive nights. Most
of our members have full-time jobs and
family commitments, so we use sign-up
sheets to ensure we have an adequate
number of volunteers each night, "
Walker explains.
Next comes lining up a Santa Claus.
Bill Donati Sr. has been volunteering
for Fine Creek since 1995. He enjoys
donning a white beard, red suit and
black boots for the star role during many
of the department's Santa Runs. Some
years, his health has kept him from
being able to do it. But, if he can,
he will. It's all for the kids, he says.
" I enjoy bringing smiles to everyone's
faces, especially the children. "
Unfortunately, Fine Creek and
Huguenot - like many other volunteer
departments across Virginia and
Maryland - can't hit every neighborhood
in their districts. But they try
to visit as many as they can.
While the fire departments make
escorting Santa look easy, it's truly a
team effort. " The Santa Runs are an 'allhands'
event for our members, meaning
we need everybody to contribute for
them to be successful, " Walker explains.
Huguenot's Santa Runs take place
for three consecutive nights. In addition
to the Santa Runs, Huguenot holds an
annual Santa Breakfast fundraiser in
December where the community is
(continued on page 12)
November-December 2023mber-December
● Cooperative Living ●
11
PHOTO BY LAURA EMERY
PHOTO COURTESY DANIEL DEHART
http://www.co-opliving.com
Cooperative Living November/December 2023

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