Each December, the Fountain Inn Fire & Rescue Department in South Carolina partners with LEO Santa, the Greenville County Sheriff’s Office, and the Greenville County Fire Association. The goal is to provide toys to children in the Upstate, with a focus on those facing financial or personal challenges. The fire station collects donated toys such as dolls, trucks, stuffed animals, and games from local residents and businesses. The program has grown from a small community effort to a large first-responder-led initiative in the region.
LEO Santa’s “Santa’s Heroes” toy drive has expanded over the past three years. In 2022, the program distributed 7,500 toys to 2,500 children. In 2023, it provided 15,000 toys to 5,000 children. In 2024, the drive delivered 20,000 toys to 6,125 children. These figures show the increasing reach of the program in southern Greenville County and northern Laurens County.
Firefighters say the project is important to them because many families they help have experienced job loss, medical issues, or house fires. Some families are struggling financially. Fire Chief Russell Alexander says the program allows firefighters to connect with families in positive situations, not only emergencies…