At the El Dorado Hills Fire Department, they look forward to the Santa Run all year long. Between the planning, the staffing, deciding who’s going to play the Grinch, and more, the EDH Fire Department really gets into the Santa Run fun; they’re also deeply touched by the community’s giving spirit. Last year, the event garnered 6,200 toys and more than 2,900 pounds of food, in addition to monetary donations, to benefit Shriners Children’s Northern California and El Dorado County Food Bank. It kicks off at the EDH Town Center Tree Lighting Dec. 6, and runs for four nights in various neighborhoods the following week. EDH Fire Chief Michael Lilienthal tells us more.
What is the Santa Run?
The Santa Run is our premier community outreach event, where firefighters, administrators, retirees, CERT members, and volunteers, along with their families, join Santa and Mrs. Claus aboard fire engines and support vehicles as we travel through local neighborhoods collecting nonperishable food, new toys, and monetary donations to support those in need. Children and adults line the streets to wave and gather at designated stops where Santa and Mrs. Claus greet families and pose for photos. Meanwhile, our elves hand out candy canes, and the Grinch is often spotted adding a bit of mischief and fun to the evening.
What’s the history behind the event?
The Santa Run is a proud El Dorado Hills tradition for more than 60 years, dating back to the earliest days of the EDH Fire Department. It reflects the department’s deep commitment to service, generosity, and community spirit, passed down from generation to generation of firefighters.
What goes into planning the Santa Run?
The Santa Run is the largest community event the department organizes each year. Beginning as early as February, staff and pm volunteers meet regularly to coordinate every detail—mapping out routes, building or enhancing props, ordering candy canes, refreshing costumes, and decorating fire engines. The team also ensures Santa, Mrs. Claus, and their festive creware prepared for each night, while keeping the website and marketing efforts up to date. Each year, one firefighter is selected to take the lead in organizing the Santa Run, a prestigious assignment and highly respected. It takes hundreds of hours of coordination, creativity, and teamwork to bring the event to life and ensure everything runs smoothly.
What community organizations and agencies help?
At each planned Santa Stop, a representative serves as ambassador. Ambassadors meet with the department in advance of the event to help ensure the success of their Santa Stop. Community partners include District Church, which donates the use of their large box truck to transport toys; the El Dorado Hills Town Center, sponsor of the annual Tree Lighting; and the Oak Ridge High School Boys Team Charity, who assist in organizing and boxing donated toys.
Tell us about Santa and Mrs. Claus, the elves, and the Grinch.
Each year, a sign-up list is circulated among firefighters and their families, inviting them to volunteer for various roles in the Santa Run. The individuals for each role change annually, adding a fresh mix of enthusiasm and spirit. One of the most beloved traditions involves the Grinch. During a firefighter’s first year of employment, they serve a probationary period, and it has become a long-standing tradition for a probationary firefighter to take on the mischievous role of the Grinch each night of the Santa Run.
How can El Dorado Hills residents fully participate in the Santa Run?
Come see us at one of our Santa Stops, listed on the Santa Run flyer and EDH Fire website (edhfire.com/how-do-i/attend/santa-run). Drop off donations of new, unwrapped toys and nonperishable food during each Santa Stop or at any of five EDH fire stations. If you’d prefer to make a monetary donation, scan the Donate Today QR code on our Santa Run page. New this year: Support the El Dorado Hills Firefighter Foundation and help continue the Holiday Heroes event. (Visit the sponsorship-donations page on the EDH Fire website.) You can also track Santa’s en-route journey by scanning the Track Santa QR code at the website.
What happens after the Santa Run?
On the Saturday following, volunteers gather at Fire Station 85 on Wilson Boulevard, then deliver the toys (by truck and fire engines) to Shriners. Witnessing the joy these donated toys bring to the children is a truly humbling and heartwarming experience. During the Santa Run, we collect and store donated food in large bins provided by the Food Bank inside the department’s apparatus bay. After the event, the Food Bank retrieves the food, weighs it, and distributes it to families and individuals in need during the holiday season.
What’s the most rewarding aspect of the Santa Run for you and the department?
Seeing the community gather for the holiday spirit. We are always humbled by the generosity. Many nights, we hear stories of parents who grew up in EDH and have moved away. They travel back with their kids to participate in the Santa Run! It is truly a multi-generation event.
What’s Needed This Year?
Donations of any new, unwrapped toys and nonperishable foodare appreciated. (No glass or expired items, please.) We have a lot of bikes donated each year, which are exciting for kids to receive. Each organization has a wish list, which can be viewed on the EDH Fire Santa Run page. For more information, go to edhfire.com/how-do-i/attend/santa-run.
The Santa Run reflects EDH Fire Department’s commitment to service, generosity, and community spirit, passed down from generation to generation of firefighters.