Glendale FD collects gifts for 450 families

PHOENIX — The holidays will be a little brighter for about 450 families, thanks to the Glendale Fire Department.

Firefighters have been collecting gifts at numerous locations around the city for three weeks and are currently sifting through the donations to spread to needy families in the Glendale Elementary School District.

But that isn’t the end of the firefighters’ holiday spirit. On Saturday, they presented Glendale Vice Mayor Yvonne Knaack with a check for $1,700 to replace the money stolen from the Valley of the Sun Salvation Army’s Korean chapter.

Firefighters also distributed 44 Thanksgiving meals to families in need last month.