Firefighters are usually dispatched to quell a blaze, but it wasn’t an emergency that brought members of Innisfil Fire and Rescue services to Tanger Outlets in Cookstown this week.
Rather, the Hometown Holiday Heroes — and the professionals at Tanger Outlets — were there to serve as a conduit for happy times and cherished memories to ignite the holiday spirit for local children in need.
It all started on Nov. 25, 2022, when members of Innisfil Fire raised $1,500 in cash donations during their Black Friday Boot Drive. The team at Tanger Outlets matched the donation and asked members of the Innisfil Fire and Rescue Services to return Dec. 14 to Christmas shop for those in need.
With that, 10 dedicated members of Innisfil Fire donned Santa hats and took to the stores Wednesday morning, purchasing a wide array of products that are sure to make children’s eyes light up this holiday season when they are donated to families in need via Innisfil’s C4Kids charity.
“Innisfil Fire and Rescue Services is here to support our community in times of emergency and beyond,” said Brent Thomas, fire chief for the Town of Innisfil/Town of Bradford West Gwillimbury. “I’m so proud of our team and the Innisfil Professional Firefighters Association for their endless dedication to the residents of Innisfil. Thanks to our partners at Tanger Outlets Cookstown and to everyone who supported the Hometown Holiday Heroes campaign this season.”
Upon hearing about the initiative, retailers happily provided the Hometown Holiday Heroes with discounts of up to 20 per cent off allowing more gifts to be purchased with the $3,000 in donated funds.
“We are thankful to our Hometown Holiday Heroes, Innisfil Fire and Rescue Services for partnering with us and raising funds to support our growing community and helping us spread holiday cheer for local children. These special gifts will bring a smile to their faces during the holidays and throughout the year,” said Stacey Melo, general manager of Tanger Outlets.
“We believe in the magic of Christmas, that’s our motto,” vice-president of Innisfil’s C4Kids Debra Harrison said. “Whether you’re rich or poor, every child should wake up Christmas morning with gifts under the tree. Without events like this — without the support that we receive year-round — we would not be able to provide that for the children, the families, and make their Christmas a lot brighter than it would be otherwise.”
“Tanger Mall has been a great supporter of Christmas for Kids for many years, Not only have individual stores helped us, but the management has organized shopping events for us, providing wonderful clothing for our children throughout the year,” President Myrlene Boken added.
Though the Hometown Holiday Heroes Event is over for 2022, Tanger Outlets continues to collect new and unused clothing and toy donations for Innisfil’s C4Kids until Christmas Eve. A donation bin can be found in front of Shopper Services, located near Entrance 2.
