Barre firefighters, Santa deliver presents to 160 kids
Photos by Tom Rivers
BARRE – Santa and Mrs. Claus stopped at a home on Oak Orchard Road this afternoon and delivered presents to children. Barre firefighter James Neal is in back.
The Barre Volunteer Fire Company escorted Santa around town today for the 11th annual Santa Express. They made 35 stops, delivering presents to 160 kids and allowing them to spend time with Santa.
The fire company sends out a letter in November, welcoming people to drop off gift-wrapped presents at the firehall and those gifts are then delivered by firefighters and Santa. People are encouraged to make a donation to the fire company if they get a visit from Santa and the firefighters.
Santa and Mrs. Claus pose with Layla Kania, twin brothers Wyatt and Elisa Webb, and Hudson Deuil.
Hudson Deuil was a little shy meeting Santa but gave him a hug before he boarded the fire truck to visit the next group of kids on the Santa Express.
Santa makes a delivery to Cara Dix of Lyndonville, who met Santa at her aunt’s house on Route 98. Her older siblings have been meeting Santa in Barre for about nine years.
“I love this tradition,” said their mother, Krystle Dix. “The kids love seeing Santa. They get one-on-one time with him without being in a big line.”
Barre firefighters split into two different groups in transporting Santa and Mrs. Claus around town. They made their deliveries from 9:30 a.m. to about 4 p.m. They were done in time to see the Bills game start at 4:25 p.m.
The Barre Volunteer Fire Company and Santa schedule the Santa Express in Barre on a Sunday when the Buffalo Bills have an away game and the game time is preferable after 1 p.m. Santa said he is rooting for the Bills in their pursuit of a Super Bowl title.
