North Coast residents will be familiar with Don and Pat Scott’s Christmas for Kids, a longtime gift giveaway helping to bring presents to thousands of kids around Ocean Shores over the years.
This year, visitors saw another name become part of it, as the Ocean Shores Firefighters Association partnered with event planners to honor Lt. John Garner, a longtime member of the Ocean Shores Fire Department who died on duty with Central Pierce Fire & Rescue almost exactly a year ago.
“Because of John’s always willingness to be there for the community and be charitable, we wanted to do something in his honor to keep that spirit of charitable work alive,” said Capt. Corey Kuhl, president of the OSFA. “He was still very much connected to the community.”
Courtesy photo / Jamie Garner Lt. John Garner was a longtime Ocean Shores firefighter before transferring to Central Pierce Fire & Rescue, where he died on duty.
Garner began with OSFD in 2007, Kuhl said. An Army veteran, Garner was known for working hard to support the community, going above and beyond even what the fire department would do, Kuhl said. Garner transferred to Central Pierce several years ago, Kuhl said, but was still friends with many in the community, including many of the firefighters still serving at OSFD
“Anytime there was a community event, John would be a part of it. He was fond of kids; he always wanted to make sure they had a good time and were included,” Kuhl said. “We wanted to do something in his memory that gave back to the kids.”
Dozens of raffle prizes were handed out during the Don and Pat Scott’s Christmas for Kids event on Saturday. (Michael S. Lockett / The Daily World)
That drive to help, to serve, wasn’t limited to Ocean Shores, said Jamie Garner, John’s father, who attended the event Saturday, saying he was humbled to see the partnership.
“This is his heart and his desire, this type of thing. I’m just so grateful — the whole family is — that he’s remembered like this,” Jamie said in an interview. “This is what he was known for, carrying it to all the departments he went to. His heart and soul was this type of service.”
Event guests wrapped around the Ocean Shores Convention Center Saturday for a gift giveaway. (MIchael S. Lockett / The Daily World)
Biggest it’s been
Be it the good weather or perhaps the good omen of invoking Garner’s name, Saturday’s event was the largest they’d ever seen, serving 360 kids, said organizer Kim Emmons. This is the first year that Don and Pat Scott, who organized and ran it all these years, have stepped back, as the organization running the event was formally reorganized as a nonprofit, Emmons said.
“It turned out really well!” Emmons said in an interview. “Just as we would hope for, the parents are really happy. The kids are all smiles.”
Donations from stores and groups across Ocean Shores and beyond help fund the event, Emmons said, while members of the group often snag gifts during times like Black Friday or in the days after Christmas to make donations go further. From businesses like Ace Hardware donating batteries, to the local Eagles aerie helping staff the event, to residents baking hundreds of cookies, it’s a community effort, Emmons said.
Michael S. Lockett / The Daily World Families wend their way through the aisles of gifts during the Don and Pat Scott’s Christmas for Kids event on Saturday.
“Everyone pulls together. It’s something everyone gets behind,” Emmons said. “We have so many new organizations that stepped up.”
A line that wended its way through the convention center, out the door, and than practically the length of the building again marked the busiest iteration of the event since its 2002 start, Emmons said, bouncing back from the drive-through days of the pandemic.
Area children were able to pick out three gifts with the chance of winning more in the raffle, as well as enjoy activities like taking pictures with Santa or the Grinch, or enjoying fresh-baked cookies.
“It’s pretty amazing. And a bit surprising how well run and well organized and well thought out it is,” Kuhl said. “The word I would use it’s humbling and inspiring.”
Michael S. Lockett / The Daily World A family poses with Santa during the Don and Pat Scott’s Christmas for Kids event on Saturday.
Among the biggest changes this year was supplying more bicycles, Emmons said, which were a universal hit with the children.
Kuhl spoke of partnering further with the event planners next year, shouldering Garner’s legacy and carrying it into the future in his name.
“(Garner) directly affected a lot of us because we worked with him,” Kuhl said. “Us becoming part of this going forward is going to be a great partnership.”
The members of the Firefighters Association are looking forward to doing more, Kuhl said.
“They are pretty amazing people,” Kuhl said. “It makes me want to get involved and do more with them.”
Fundraising and supporting efforts for the annual event go on year-round, Emmons said; those looking to help or donate can reach out at the event’s social media page at Don and Pat Scott’s Christmas for Kids.
Contact Senior Reporter Michael S. Lockett at 757-621-1197 or mlockett@thedailyworld.com.
Dozens of bikes were handed out during the Don and Pat Scott’s Christmas for Kids event in Ocean Shores on Saturday. (Michael S. Lockett / The Daily World)
