The presence of an emergency response team outside a senior citizen home typically signals just that — an emergency.
But the Independent Hose Co. volunteers who arrived outside Citizens Care and Rehabilitation Center of Frederick on Friday morning came for a different reason.
They opened the back of the white truck, and pulled out a stretcher, loaded down with blankets, hats, scarves, candy and other gifts they would deliver to the residents and employees at Citizens on Christmas.
As Joe Dodd wheeled the yellow stretcher through the automatic doors of the nursing and assisted living home, he called out to the other volunteers with him.
“They don’t know we’re coming,” he warned. “I was going to call, but then I forgot.”
Inside the lobby laden with Christmas decor, the nurses and receptionist were, indeed, surprised.
But, as nurse supervisor Joey Punturiero quickly added, “It’s a great surprise.”
Of the roughly 160 residents of Citizens, only a dozen or so actually go home for the holiday, Punturiero said. While the facility provides a day of songs, holiday meals and festivities for those who remain, it still can be hard, especially for the ones with no family coming to visit, she said.
Dodd, a London native who moved to Frederick two years ago to pursue training as an emergency medical technician, can sympathize. Between his work hours and the expense of traveling, he, too, was unable to reunite with family for the holidays.
It was his own situation that inspired him to organize a gift donation for the residents of Citizens.
“If these guys have to stay here, I thought, we might as well bring the holidays to them,” Dodd said.
He spread the word through the fire company beginning Monday, hoping to garner a few dozen gifts to deliver during his Christmas shift. But through social media and word-of-mouth, the idea for a small collection blossomed into a full-on donation drive.
Some were dropped off at the station. Dodd made the rounds to pick up others from donors’ homes on Christmas Eve.
Dodd estimated that at least 100 gifts were donated — everything from candies and scarves to wrapped “mystery gifts.” Most were sent by Frederick residents, but some came from as far as Ashburn, Virginia.
Joseph Turner, a three-year resident at Citizens, stood from his bed, smiling, as the yellow stretcher arrived in his room Friday.
“This is probably the happiest time we’ve come here in a stretcher,” Dodd joked as he explained their presence and the gifts.
“For once, I’m glad I’m not in it,” Turner, 84, responded.
After selecting a pair of bedroom slippers — “those are something I need,” Turner said — Turner and Dodd embraced, exchanging holiday well wishes before the crew continued on their way.
“It’s just overwhelming,” Turner said, clutching his gifts to his chest and smiling. “This is just beautiful.”
A roomful of residents who were sitting watching Christmas movies were next in line to receive gifts. Lance Lopez, a volunteer EMT, bent down to wish each a Merry Christmas as he handed off bags of scented soaps and toiletries.
Like Dodd, Lopez, a Colorado native, was far from family for the holiday.
“I’m used to it, though,” he said.
His active duty service with the U.S. Navy required him to spend many a Christmas away from home, he explained. The special delivery helped make the day meaningful, even without the presence of his family.
“We come here so often, we might as well show them a little love,” Lopez said.
After piling the remaining gifts below the towering Christmas tree in the lobby, Lopez, Dodd, and volunteer firefighter Peter Van set off for the station to continue their 24-hour shift.
“Hopefully, it’ll be a quiet one,” Dodd said. “This was the highlight.”
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