“Our first night, Santa was greeted by a whole neighborhood singing ‘Santa Claus is Coming to Town,’” says Stephanie Feinburg, president of the Dunn Loring Volunteer Fire and Rescue Department (DLVFRD).
The holiday season is here, and it’s time for Operation Santa 2019.
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From Dec. 5 to 19—having officially started on Dec. 3—a celebratory firetruck will make its way around local Northern Virginia neighborhoods, with Santa Claus on board and several volunteer first responders, dressed in elf hats, of course.
Rather than sirens, they’ll be playing holiday music, and the big man with the bright-red suit will greet local residents and hear the many gift requests of even the littlest of community members.
“It’s important for us to meet our community that we serve and help spread some holiday cheer and community awareness,” says Feinburg. “We are a diverse membership and we enjoy spreading holiday cheer to our neighbors.”
DLVFRD has hosted the event for over 30 years, and this year, has updated Santa’s stops to “rally points” across the area. That way, if local residents miss Santa’s tour through their neighborhood, they can catch him at another location nearby, or on another night.
“Our members look forward to this every year,” says Feinburg, of the DLVFRD first responders. “Typically when we respond to calls, we have our lights and sirens on, but this time of year, we get to ‘respond’ with lights and holiday music.”
Stops on the Operation Santa 2019 tour include Tysons Glen, The Oaks at Falls Church, Marshall Heights, Brittany Parc and Tysons View on Thursday, Dec. 5. Following stops will be at Pimmit Hills, Iliff Nursing & Rehab Center and Renaissance Pediatrics Center, Sandburg and North Park Streets, and more on subsequent evenings.
“We are so glad to be able to meet our neighbors in non-emergency situations like Operation Santa,” says Feinburg. “We are so fortunate to have such great support from our community, who serve as volunteers, donate to our fundraisers and simply offer high-fives when they see us.”
The station will also be hosting a Paws with Claws event on Sunday, Dec. 8, where local residents can bring their pets to meet Santa, and get a photo-op for furry friends. For Operation Santa, local residents can find the full list of stops on the department’s Facebook page.