By Fallan Patterson
Staff Writer

Local governments, agencies and businesses have gotten into the holiday spirit while ensuring Osceola County children and seniors have a merry Christmas by hosting gift drives.

For more than 15 years, St. Cloud Fire Rescue has hosted its annual toy and food drive complete with Santa’s Workshop for families in the city identified by the Osceola County School District.

Other needy children are identified through the Osceola County Health Department, local social workers and Community Based Care of Central Florida, the local agency that services adoptions and foster children.

“We cross-check with other organizations to spread it out. It’s grown more and more because the need is so much greater every year,” Lisa Thompson, SCFR Emergency Medical Services Chief, said, adding she already has a waiting list this year. “It’s unbelievable how many are in need and living in hotels, down and out because of the economy. We help out as many as we can.”

The department places collection boxes at local businesses such as Big Lots and CenterState Bank, government buildings including St. Cloud City Hall, the senior center and civic center and all of the city’s fire and police departments for residents to drop off unwrapped toys, non-perishable food and clothing.

Jade Isle Mobile Home Park recently donated 14 turkeys and toys to the effort.

The fire department holds bake sales and other fundraisers such as their annual golf tournament with Boy Scout Troop 9 throughout the year to raise money for the event, which also includes Christmas dinner food boxes.

“Anything we have extra, which is rare, we always help out the St. Cloud Food Pantry,” Thompson said.

The fire department also offers a Santa’s Workshop for the families participating in the giveaway complete with a Santa meet-and-greet, cookies and milk.

St. Cloud also encourages residents to  support the Osceola County Council on Aging’s Senior Santa program.

By giving a $25 donation, a local senior citizen will get an invitation and transportation to the Senior Santa Holiday Party, which includes dinner, decorations, entertainment, party favors and a gift.

More than 400 people are expected to attend this year’s holiday party and volunteers always are needed.

Volunteers will bring homebound seniors dinner, a gift, party favors and provide company on Christmas Day.

The Council on Aging has identified more than 3,000 seniors in need of nutrition, companionship and care during the holidays in Osceola County.

“The Senior Secret program provides warmth, laughter and nutrition that should be available to everyone year-round and even more during the holiday season,” Beverly Hougland, Council on Aging executive director, said. “We hope we can count on the community to help make this time of year a joyous one for our senior citizens.”

Donations for Senior Santa are accepted until Dec. 31. For more information on the program, to donate or volunteer, visit www.osceolagenerations.org or call 407-846-8532.

All three local law enforcement agencies are again participating in Shop with a Cop, an annual event where officers take needy children on a shopping spree for the holidays.

Thanks to donations from local businesses including Shamrock Auto Body Shop, Soldier City Saloon, St. Cloud Printing and Morse Market, the St. Cloud Police Department will shop with a number of children at the St. Cloud Walmart.

The children – all of whom attend school within the St. Cloud city limits, are in Kindergarten to eighth grades, have a social or economic need and have not participated in the program in the past – received gift cards Wednesday and shopped with an officer.

In Kissimmee, members of the police department took 90 children shopping over two days at two separate Walmarts.

On Dec. 11, 45 children from local schools were given $100 gift cards to shop with an officer at the Osceola Parkway Walmart and had lunch provided by McDonald’s.

On Tuesday, the remaining 45 students got their $100 gift card and unleashed them on the Vine Street Walmart, with a member of the police force in tow helping the smaller ones push the cart, or keeping a running tally of what they spent in order to fit in that last gift for a brother or sister — or themselves. Lunch was provided at the Kissimmee Police Department, donated by local businesses.

“This is one of the best programs that the Kissimmee Police Department is involved with,” police Chief Lee Massie said as he helped 10-year-old Peter, a fourth-grader at Flora Ridge Elementary shop for his parents and siblings. “It’s heartwarming to see the smiles on the faces of these children. This is what the holiday’s all about.”

Peter gravitated to the watches, picking out a nice one for his father. He eventually got one for himself, too, as Chief Massie prodded him to leave a little in the day’s budget aside.

“You’re a good man for including your whole family, but make sure you get something for yourself,” he said.

Students from Flora Ridge, Kissimmee Elementary and Middle, Denn John Middle and Osceola High were a part of Tuesday’s event, and most came armed with lists. Clothes and shoes were popular, especially with the middle and high-schoolers who were buying for younger siblings or cousins. Inexpensive but attractive jewelry was high on those lists “for Mom”.

Another Flora Ridge student didn’t want to give his name for fear of spoiling a Christmas surprise.

“My mom wants a pancake maker,” he said after making sure he had two toys for each of his siblings before heading to the small appliance section — that is once he could pull away from all the options the toy aisles presented.

The Osceola County Sheriff’s Office had three Shop with a Cop events scheduled, beginning Dec. 5 where deputies helped children choose gifts at the St. Cloud Walmart and Wednesday at the Vineland Road Walmart.

“Shop With A Cop is a valuable and worthwhile program the Sheriff’s Office has supported for many years,” Sheriff Bob Hansell said. “It makes a difference in the lives of many children in our community and it helps build positive relationships with young people and law enforcement.”

Their third event was scheduled for Wednesday at the Poinciana Walmart on Cypress Parkway.

Ken Jackson contributed to this story.