Twenty students from Wyomina Park Elementary School recently spent a fun morning with Ocala Fire Rescue firefighters.
The children, who were selected to participate in the Cathy’s Kids program, were transported to the Wal-Mart Supercenter at 2600 SW 19th Avenue Rd. Firefighters were anxiously waiting there to meet the children they would soon be treating to quite a shopping experience.
Once the students and the firefighters were paired off, they made their way into the store where clothes, shoes and toys for the children and their family members were purchased. When the shopping spree was completed, the group headed for Tuscawilla Park for a recess filled with playground games and pizza.
For years, members of the International Association of Firefighters Local #2135 have honored the tradition set forth by Cathy’s Kids Founder, Cathy Fender, of gifting a child a morning of shopping followed by a trip to the park with undivided attention. The effort was possible thanks to donations from firefighters and sponsors such as Papa Johns and Wayne’s World of Paintball, among others.