The Maple Valley Fire and Life Safety holiday engine completed its mission of collecting thousands of pounds of food for the food bank and bringing the Christmas spirit to every neighborhood it visited.

The holiday engine program was organized by Lt. John Madden.

“We skipped a year last year because of financial issues,” Madden said. “But Jerry Woods asked me this year and I put it together.”

Woods worked hard to get the holiday engine rolling again.

Madden said through the three weekends the holiday engine traveled neighborhoods in the area with Santa Claus and Sparky the fire dog. More than 2,400 pounds of food was collected for the Maple Valley Food Bank. Madden said about $1,575 was also collected for the food bank.

According to Madden, 17 firefighters came in during their off-duty time with their families to drive the engine and collect food and funds.

Madden also said he wanted to thank the Maple Valley Girl Scouts and Tahoma High School cheerleaders, who helped make the holiday engine a success.

“I had a ball,” Madden said. “Anytime you’re out there with the kids it is fun. And I got calls from so many firefighters telling me they were elated. We will be out there next year.”

Reach Dennis Box at dbox@maplevalleyreporter.com or 425-432-1209 ext. 5050.

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