Mike Wolanin | The Republic Leroy Armstrong, left, and Mark Ziegler load a box of gifts into the back of a truck during the Columbus Firemen’s Cheer Fund delivery day at the cheer fund building in Columbus, Ind., Saturday, Dec. 18, 2021.
Tired of feeling the “bahs” and “humbugs” that often come with cloudy skies and colder temperatures?
An easy way to get into the holiday spirit is to deliver gift boxes for the Columbus Firemen’s Cheer Fund.
Distribution gets underway at 8 a.m. Saturday at 2674 Verhulst Drive on the east side of the Columbus Air Park. However, veteran volunteers have said in the past that they often arrive much earlier for the bragging rights of being at or near the top of the line.
As of Thursday, the Cheer Fund was scheduled to deliver 960 gift boxes, each worth more than $150, on Saturday, co-chairman Ben Noblitt said.
There is no registration necessary to deliver for the Cheer Fund. If you are a licensed driver with a vehicle large enough to carry two or more gift boxes, you are automatically qualified the moment you arrive in line Saturday morning.
Since the 3-year-old Cheer Fund headquarters, located just north of the Evolution Training Center, is new to a number of local residents, the organization will use directional signs on Middle Road and Arnold Street, as well as an electronic flashing arrow, to ensure nobody gets lost, Noblitt said.
The line of volunteer deliverers will be directed to come up to the east side of the building and be guided into lines allowing them to enter the building through open garage doors.
After stopping at one of four loading zones, where firefighters and others place gift boxes in their vehicles, the drivers will exit via the west door after they receive their list of deliveries.
Drivers and passengers are asked to remain in their car or truck while picking up gift boxes. The practice has allowed the Cheer Fund to complete all deliveries in about 90 minutes, Noblitt said.
In the past, some of the most loyal drivers have explained they were recipients of the 92-year-old holiday charity when they were children. They are often the ones who will complete their first round of gift box distribution and come back to pick up a second load. But all drivers are reminded they have to return to Cheer Fund headquarters to bring back signature pages that a parent or guardian of the recipient has signed upon receipt.
Organizers have learned to allow at least a week after distribution day for parents who were not at home when the delivery was made. This delay also allows the Cheer Fund time to consider applications that came in after the deadline due to circumstances beyond their control.
