On December 23, more than 300 first responder vehicles lit the way for Santa outside Nationwide Children’s Hospital and Ronald McDonald House Charities of Central Ohio. Police, firefighters, highway patrol and more led Santa in a caravan from Columbus State Community College to Livingston Avenue. Once parked, the vehicles let their lights shine for nearly a half hour, offering the children a free holiday light show.
“This was a fantastic event,” said Dee Anders, CEO of RMHC of Central Ohio. “Children and families watched Santa come to town right outside their windows.”
The night started at Columbus State Community College with an assembly and a gift drop off for the Ronald McDonald House. Light Ohio Blue organized the event with the Ohio Association of Chiefs of Police, Buckeye State Sheriffs’ Association, Ohio State Highway Patrol, International Association of Firefighters, State Lodge of the Fraternal Order of Police and many other public safety agencies.
During the assembly, the first responders swore in a Jr. Police Chief, Jr. Fire Chief, Highway Patrol Jr. Colonel and a Jr. Sheriff, all children who have a connection with either the hospital or the House. The officers then filed into their decorated vehicles to begin leading the way for Santa, who rode in a SWAT tank.
Before the parade began, officers drove a semitruck full of donated toys to the Ronald McDonald House. In total, the officers donated thousands of toys to families who had to spend their holidays at the House. In addition, the Franklin County Engineer’s Office raised $1,000 for the organization.
“It’s a way of letting everyone there know they are remembered during the holidays,” said Bill Swank, organizer of the event. “And we let the children know they are lighting the way for Santa and his crew to arrive the following night.”
Swank has run Operation Santa’s Sleigh since 2019, when just 60 first responders participated. Now, the operation occurs simultaneously in nine cities across Ohio. All the Children’s Hospitals, the state Veterans Homes in Georgetown and Sandusky; and the VA in-patient Medical Centers located in Chillicothe, Cincinnati, Cleveland and Dayton were visited by first responders to spread holiday cheer to some of the most special Ohioans.