Local firefighters will once again be helping out families in need over the holiday season. This year marks the third annual Sparky’s Secret Wish Campaign, through which Grande Prairie Firefighters Charitable Foundation Chairperson Jason Green says they have up to $20,000 worth of gift cards to hand out.
“If you know somebody that is going through a tough time this Christmas, whether they’re a single mother that’s having trouble making ends meet or they have an illness in the family, it could be any number of situations, find us on Facebook, submit the story of those people and their name. Everything is kept anonymous.”
Last year they were able to help out 35 families with $500 gift cards. The firefighters use their spare time to fundraise year-round, with major events like their calendar and annual golf tournament helping bring in tens of thousands of dollars. Chairperson Jason Green calls it a privilege.
“As firefighters, we kind of see ourselves as somebody who is in a very good position to give back to the community. That’s why we started this charitable foundation in the first place and the charity work has been so rewarding over the past eight or nine years that we’re keeping rolling with it.”
The deadline for nominations is December 6th.