MARINE CORPS BASE QUANTICO, Va. -- Each year, as a token of gratitude, the town of Quantico presents a Christmas gift to the Marine Corps Base Quantico Fire Department, which provides emergency and rescue services in town. This year was the second time, though, that the fire department asked that a donation to Toys for Tots be made in lieu of the kitchen goods and other items the town has given in the past.
Firefighters picked up the presents in the afternoon of Dec. 17, 2013, riding up to the town office in one of the station’s fire engines.
“Since they can’t take money, we do the shopping and then present it to them,” said town Treasurer Debra Kidwell, who picked out the toys this year. She also had the help of one of the station’s firefighters, who she ran into at the store by coincidence.
“I used my own judgment and got things I’d buy my grandkids,” Kidwell said, adding that she tried to choose toys for boys and girls of all ages.
“We have a great partnership with the people over here and the town, and we enjoy responding and helping them with anything we can do,” said fire department Capt. Kevin Dickey, as he and two other fire fighters loaded the toys into their truck.
— Writer: mdicicco@quanticosentryonline.com