Don Lupo
Operations Manager, City of Birmingham
Don Lupo serves the city of Birmingham by taking care of the people who live on our streets—something he’s done for over 25 years. “We live in a very special place,” Don says. “Our spirit of generosity can’t be touched. For every bad story you hear in the news, I can tell you 100 good stories.”
Not a year has gone by without Don getting a call the week of Christmas from a mother, hesitantly and apologetically asking for help providing Christmas gifts for her child. “The thing that has always touched me the most,” Don shares, “is that not once, not ever, has a mother asked me for something for herself. Not one mother has ever said, ‘I need a new coat,’ or, ‘Can you send me on a shopping spree?’ Their only interest is making sure that they have something for their children.”
Throughout the holiday season and year round, Don lives by the mantra, “Love thy neighbor, feed the hungry, clothe those who are naked,” which he’s quick to explain he doesn’t do alone. “I’m just the ugly face and the big mouth,” he jokes. He works with countless citizens that he calls “angels” who provide tangible care for those in need. “We do what we do, and we do it together,” Don says, echoing a sentiment from the 2015 movie Burnt that resonated deeply with him. He adds, “I don't care who you are. I don't care what you do. We don’t do anything by ourselves.”
Don will never forget the cold winter night when a fire across the street from Temple Emanu-El left many without shelter. Rabbi Adam Wright arrived at the temple within 10 minutes of Don’s phone call to welcome people inside. He worked with Don and Mayor Woodfin late into the night, insisting that they feed everyone in their beautiful sanctuary. As he left for the night, Rabbi Wright handed Don his personal ring of keys to the temple and said, “Our house is your house.”
“That’s the kind of generous spirit we have here in Birmingham,” Don says quietly. “That’s the magic of The Magic City.”
Logan Whitehead
Firefighter, Paramedic; Mountain Brook Fire Department
For Logan Whitehead, being a firefighter is more than a job—it’s a family legacy. His father dedicated 31 years to this calling, and Logan proudly followed in his footsteps, filling his father’s position at the station when he retired. Now a seasoned firefighter with 10 years under his belt, he makes the most of the holiday season with his wife and daughters, even if he is working on holidays.
Since childhood, Logan has understood the sacrifices that come with the role. “Growing up, we might eat leftovers with Dad the day after Thanksgiving, depending on his shift. And we were always told that Santa came on December 24,” he says, reflecting how his girls are learning to embrace flexible traditions, too. “It’s not always ideal, but it’s what we signed up for, and we make it work.” He noted that firefighters spend a lot of time together, working 24-hour shifts that add up to a third of their lives. “The people we work with become like a second family.”
Logan recalls his first holiday on duty before he had a family of his own, where he volunteered for the shift. “We responded to a pretty rough call,” he remembers. “Knowing we could be there to help on a day like that—it made the sacrifice worth it.”
Rodney May
Assistant Chief of Operations, State Military Department, 117th Air Refueling Wing
Firefighter, Paramedic; Midfield Fire Department
Rodney has spent 33 years answering the call of duty no matter the time or season. He has served as a firefighter for the City of Birmingham, the Air National Guard, and the Midfield Fire Department. This year, he worked on Thanksgiving and will be on shift for both Christmas and New Year’s Day.
The holidays are often the busiest time of year for firefighters. While many enjoy these holidays at home, Rodney and his crew continue to serve, sometimes running on little to no sleep. "You may get four hours of sleep, or you may not get any sleep," he says, but the dedication of his team never wavers.
Rodney’s passion for firefighting started young. "I still have a picture I drew when I was in first grade that I found years later," Rodney shares. "It’s a drawing of a firefighter and a firetruck, and I’d written ‘I want to be a firefighter when I grow up’ on it." Little did he know then that his dream would become his life’s purpose. "Working for the fire department is a calling in and of itself,” he says.
Rodney has witnessed heartbreaking tragedies, but also the generosity of his fellow firefighters. "I know stations that have pulled together the day after a house fire and pitched in to buy Christmas for a family who lost everything.” He recalls another time that he and his fellow firefighters built a wheelchair ramp for an elderly lady in need. “We had a crew out there on our day off,” he shares. “We weren’t asked to do it. It’s just what we do. You’re a firefighter—on and off the clock."
Rodney finds his work both meaningful and rewarding. "Seeing the difference you’ve made in somebody’s life, that’s what it’s all about. That’s why you’re there to start with."