Every holiday season for the last several years, the Gravette Fire Department has collected toys and clothing to distribute at Christmas time to local families who need extra support during the holidays. After seeing a need in the community, Chief David Orr and Captain Jared Weston are expanding the Christmas for Kids program in order to serve more families in the Gravette fire district.

 

Through the holiday season, the Gravette Fire Department will be collecting new, unwrapped toys and clothing items as part of its Christmas for Kids collection and distribution. There is a collection box at Dollar General in Gravette and items are also being accepted at the Gravette Fire Station and Gravette City Hall. Monetary donations are also accepted and appreciated. All items are distributed to local families in the Gravette fire district, which includes the Gravette city limits and unincorporated areas of Benton County.

 

The department was inspired to start the program after seeing its positive impact on children and families in rural fire districts in Southwest Missouri. Gravette Fire Department Captain Jared Weston has a personal connection to the program after seeing his father, Grady Weston, support the program in Newton County as Chief of the Newton County Rescue and Recovery. Captain Weston assisted with the Newton County program for several years before starting Christmas for Kids in Gravette. "One of his greatest wishes was to see no child go without on Christmas and so we hope to expand on his and many others’ hard work and to bring joy to many kids here in Gravette," says Captain Weston.

 

The online application for assistance is available below. Paper applications are available at City Hall and can be returned via email to info@GravetteAR.com, at City Hall, or at the fire station. Applications are due by December 1 and will be evaluated by a review committee and then forwarded to the fire department to compile an assortment of gifts. Selected recipients will receive the gifts prior to Christmas. Chief Orr states, “Our hope is that every kid can have a great Christmas.”

 

The Gravette fire district covers 53 square miles of both city and county response area and is staffed by career and volunteer firefighters. In 2018, the department responded to more than 1,000 fire and medical calls.

 

TOY COLLECTION LOCATIONS

Gravette City Hall

110 Second Ave. SE

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Gravette Dollar General

404 First Ave. NE

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Gravette Fire Station

309 First Ave. NW