BSO Plays Santa To Needy Lauderdale Lakes Family

LAUDERDALE LAKES (CBS4) - Chemonda Grant knew Christmas for her 8 kids would be lean this year but she wasn't complaining.

"I have some things for them," she said. "It wouldn't have been too bad. But this makes it even better."

Grant, a woman of strong faith, said she received a Christmas "miracle" from the Broward Sheriff's Office.

Two weeks ago, she learned her needy family had been selected to receive a Christmas tree and hundreds of dollars in gifts for her children.

"Miracles still happen and if you have faith, things will happen for you," she told CBS 4's Carey Codd.

The kids waited outside their home in Lauderdale Lakes as the siren sounded on the BSO Fire Rescue truck driving down their block Thursday afternoon.

Captain Jim Bishop unloaded bags and boxes of toys. He said the smiles on the kids' faces is overwhelming.

"That makes us so happy to see that, to be able to do that for them," Bishop said.

Firefighters from Lauderdale Lakes Fire Station 37 raised $400 in cash, $100 in Publix gift cards and $400 in toys from their own donations and contributions from Lauderdale Lakes Commissioner Dr. Edwina Coleman and resident Beatrice Esdell.

Ashley Grant, 18, called the outpouring a blessing.

"We never knew what we was gonna get all of this stuff," she said. "My mom she like struggled."

Grant said her kids do well in school and she works to ground them in faith and hard work.

She said they are grateful for everything they have.

"I teach them to understand, I say, 'Would you rather Mommy pay the light bill or buy you some sneakers. Which do you prefer? I would prefer the light,'" she said.

The kids were definitely grateful for the gifts from total strangers. As the firefighters headed out on a call. They could take pride in knowing they left a house full of overjoyed children with their hands and hearts full.