Original publish date: 12/24/2024
This holiday season, the City of Concord is making sure the holidays are bright for as many residents as possible. From shopping with children to giving Santa a lift in the ladder truck to visit children in the local hospital, Team Concord has made giving back to the community a priority.
As a team building activity earlier this fall, the City’s leadership team worked together to build bicycles for the Fire Department’s annual toy drive. Community organizations, like Jeepers United, rallied around their efforts and donated hundreds of toys that were distributed to children and families in need this holiday season. This year’s toy drive supported 13 families, including over 40 children.
The City of Concord Police Department partnered with the Fraternal Order of Police Lodge 64, the Cabarrus County Sheriff’s Office, and the Boys and Girls Club of Cabarrus County to take nearly 40 children on an all-expenses-paid shopping trip to the Walmart on Supercenter Drive in Concord. Children are able to pick out clothing, shoes, and toys and enjoy a pizza lunch, all while spending time with and getting to know a local police officer. Over the last 30 years, Concord PD and the Fraternal Order of Police Lodge 64 have supported over 1,500 families in need during the holiday season.
The Concord Fire and Police departments spent Christmas Eve spreading holiday cheer to children in the Jeff Gordon’s Children’s Hospital who won’t be home for the holidays. Concord PD provided Santa with a police escort as he made his way to the hospital. Once there, Concord Fire gave Santa a lift using their ladder truck so he could greet children through the hospital windows. During their visit, they handed out gifts to the nearly 30 children who will spend Christmas in the hospital this year.
This is often a hard time of year for families, whether they are spending the season in the hospital or unable to make ends meet to provide extras this holiday season. In total, the Concord Fire and Police departments have made the holidays brighter for more than 100 children this year.