Summit Firefighters Visit Hospitalized Children

SUMMIT, NJ - Escorted by Summit's bravest, Santa Claus made his way to two local hospitals to spread holiday cheer to children who wouldn't be able to celebrate Christmas at home.

On Dec. 19, the Summit Fire Department and its FMBA Local 54 members attended the annual Christmas party at Saint Barnabas Medical Center with children from the Burn Center and pediatric floor of the hospital. Firefighter David May (Santa Claus) and Firefighter Chris Esposito brought gifts for all participants.

On the morning of Christmas Eve, Summit firefighters contact the pediatric floor of Overlook Medical Center to determine how many presents are needed for children that have been admitted to the hospital. For the past 30 years, Summit Fire Department and FMBA Local 54 members have escorted Santa Claus to Overlook Medical Center for an annual Christmas Eve visit with pediatric floor patients. Santa Claus joins the firefighters to help spread some Christmas joy and gifts to the hospitalized children.

The Summit Fire Department said they appreciate the doctors, nurses and medical center staff who help to make these special holiday visits possible.

For more information on the Summit Fire Department, go to cityofsummit.org/fire.

(Photos courtesy of the Summit Fire Department)

Thanks for reading! Learn more about posting announcements or events to your local Patch site here. Have a news tip you'd like to share? Or maybe you have a press release you would like to submit or a correction you'd like to request? Send an email to russ.crespolini@patch.com

Subscribe to your local Patch newsletter by clicking here. You can also have them delivered to your phone screen by downloading our Apple iOS app here, or by visiting the Google Play store for the Android app here.