Santa Claus and the Richmond County Sheriff’s Office made one more community round before Christmas, passing out toys to kids with help from the East Rockingham Fire Department late Tuesday afternoon.
The convoy left the station on Airport Road — with Santa sitting on top of a fire truck — and turned down Mizpah Road, stopping at the Ashley Chapel Community Center and a few homes along Collins Church Road, as a mix of sleet and rain fell.
The route continued down Sandhill Road to Eason Drive and Broadway Street, making another stop at Jefferson Park Free Will Baptist Church.
During the stops, William Patterson with ERFD, Kim Childers with Richmond County Schools and Monica Gulledge, manager of the Dollar General on Airport Road, dug through the toys to pick out ones that were suitable for each child.
Patterson also walked out to several homes that sat off the road to deliver toys to keep the kids from having to walk out in the weather.
Santa stepped down from the truck at several stops to pose for photos with the kids — and some parents.
Stops were also made along Entwistle 3rd Street, Church Street and Middle Street.
Santa’s helpers also included Lt. Mike Childers, Lt. Clyde Smith and Deputy Brian Cloninger from RCSO, and Mike Burns and Jace Childers from ERFD.
On Saturday, the RCSO teamed up with Cordova Fire and Rescue to distribute toys in that community and the week before had delivered toys in Ellerbe.
Click here to see video of the Ellerbe route.
The day before the Ellerbe route, RCSO took children shopping through its Shop with a Deputy program. The Rockingham Police Department also helped 11 families with its 10th annual Shop with a Cop rogram on Dec. 16.
Click here to see video from Shop with a Deputy.
Click here to see video from RPD’s Shop with a Cop.
Visit the RO’s Facebook page for video of the East Rockingham route.
See photos below