The East End Fire Company of Tamaqua is again hoping to make Christmas a little brighter for families in need.

“We give each family a turkey and everything needed for a Christmas dinner and each child gets at least one gift and some item of clothing,” said Thomas McCarroll, who helps oversee the gift and food drive.

The helpful program has gone on for the last 20 years, he said. Anyone wishing to help can do so in a number of ways.

“We set a day when everyone gets together and we wrap and deliver the gifts and food,” McCarroll said. “Volunteers can donate, shop, wrap or help deliver.”

Donations of non-perishable items or monetary amounts can be dropped off at the 553 E. Broad St. firehouse. McCarroll can be contacted through “Thomas McCarroll” on Facebook.

“We also have people who sponsor a family which consists of doing the shopping for the children in that family,” he added.

Organizers have an amount that they try to spend on each child, and that typically determines the size of family a person would like to sponsor.

In 2022, the fire company helped 48 families and 161 children.