Mike Wolanin | The Republic Adeline Allen receives her gifts from the Columbus Firemen’s Cheer Fund in Columbus, Ind., Saturday, Dec. 13, 2025.
Not even the threat of an incoming snowstorm would keep local families from spreading Christmas cheer.
Columbus’ Firemen’s Cheer Fund, the oldest running charity in the county, held its 95th annual Delivery Date Saturday morning. Over 60 volunteers and around 75 delivery drivers showed up to deliver toys and games to around 1,400 kids around Bartholomew County.
“I want to thank the firefighters for all of the work and effort they put into it and their families… this is a family event, and then just the community at large being so generous throughout the year,” said Mayor Mary Ferdon, who attended the event Saturday morning. “This year’s been particularly tough in a lot of ways, so having the community step up is what makes Columbus Columbus.”
At points, cars of delivery drivers stretched from the Cheer Fund’s headquarters at 2674 Verhulst St. to Middle Road, co-chair Ben Noblitt said. He has served as co-chair for nine years, recently joined last year by fellow co-chairmen and firefighters Ethan Yeley and Seth Burton. After this year, he will be stepping down as Cheer Fund co-chair.
Delivery Day started at 8 a.m. and had concluded by about 9:50 a.m., according to Heather Noblitt. First in line this year was the Eubanks family, Greg, Christy and their daughter Amber. The family, who has been participating in Cheer Fund for three years now, had been waiting since about 6 a.m.
“It’s our first time being first in line, so it’s been my husband’s goal for a few years now,” Christy Eubanks said.
Cheer Fund veterans Mike Jaggers and Amber McBride, who arrived around 6:15 a.m., followed closely behind the Eubanks family. For the past two years, Jaggers and his daughters Shannon Krebbs and McBride had been first in line, but the Eubanks beat them to the punch this year.
Jaggers said he has been participating with Cheer Fund for at least 20 years, just like his father did before him. To him and McBride, knowing that they’re helping kids out, giving them something for Christmas and the smiles on the kids’ faces keeps them coming back year after year.
“A lot of the time, the mom tells the kids to go in the other room so that they won’t see what they get, so she can separate them and maybe wrap them or something before Christmas,” Jaggers said. “But they get in and they see a box in there and they want to dive right into it.”
But before any of these families could make their deliveries, Santa and Mrs. Claus made the first delivery on a fire engine. Mark and Chrissy Riley made arrangements for Santa and Mrs. Claus to appear, where the jolly Christmas icons usually make appearances in Edinburgh for their Christmas events.
“The Firemen’s Cheer Fund is one of our favorite charities and what they do and it is a well-oiled machine just like the fire department,” Mrs. Claus said. “And seeing the care and the passion and the attention to detail for these families is heartwarming, which is why we are so adamant of whatever you need, we’re here to help you.”
The first delivery was made to 2-year-old Adeline, who got to open one of her presents, a doctor’s kit, early. Mrs. Claus said it always makes her so happy to deliver the first gift, and watching Adeline play with her new toys was just magical.
“Just to see the families light up and Adeline just was so shocked that Santa’s at her house,” Mrs. Claus said. “It was fantastic.”
Inside the Cheer Fund building, volunteers demonstrated how the event has become a family affair as several families worked at six stations to pack up drivers’ cars with boxes of toys. Jen Brown came by Saturday with her husband Jeff and their children, 7-year-old Olivia and 6-year-old Alex. She has been coming out to help since before she met Jeff, who is also a lieutenant with the fire department.
“(Olivia) was here for the first time when she was probably 7 months old in a carrier,” Jen Brown said. “So we come every year, this is Alex’s first year to help with Cheer Fund Delivery Day, but we come and box and all that stuff.”
Alex spent the morning passing out fruit to delivery drivers. Big sister Olivia said her favorite parts of participating in Cheer Fund are handing out candy to drivers and shopping for her fellow kids. This year, she shopped for a 9-year-old and a 7-year-old, picking out items including Play-Doh and a football.
“We love the Cheer Fund,” Jen Brown said. “I just think it’s great that every kiddo can have a good Christmas and it takes some of that stress off some of the parents who maybe are having a little bit harder time delivering Christmas themselves, so I think it kind of just encompasses the whole spirit of Christmas.”
