Support shoe fund at breakfast-with-Santa event

SANDUSKY — Local firefighters invite the community to attend a charity breakfast event scheduled from 9 a.m. to noon on Sunday, Dec. 14 at Sandusky Fire Station No. 1, 600 W. Market St., Sandusky. "We're serving eggs, meat, potatoes, fresh fruit and waffles," according to an event statement. "Bring the whole family and get photos taken with Santa." The free function, co-sponsored by Sandusky fire and The Commons of Providence, supports the Sandusky Firefighters Shoe Fund. Firefighters, however, do suggest people make donations to its Sandusky Firefighters Shoe Fund. All proceeds benefit the fund, which, at no cost to recipients, provides footwear for locals in need. History lesson Sandusky fire gave some context into the shoe fund: In December 1950, Sandusky fire Chief Wilson "Slip" Mclaughlin had a vision for the children of our community. In his vision, he found that there was a great need for shoes to be put on those children whose families were unable to provide them. He took $50 out of his own pocket, and, with some help from a local businessman, the shoe fund was started. In the early years, the firefighters, at the chief's encouragement, picked up the children, took them to the local shoe stores, had them properly fitted and returned them to their homes. This was done with their personal vehicles and fuel. From that day to the current times, this fund has provided proper fitting shoes to an average of 100 to 150 children a year. With our past partnerships — Shoe Carnival, Arthur's Shoe Tree, Flippen's and Pietschman's — this program has continued to grow. We have reduced the costs to the very minimum, allowing us to purchase the most shoes for the money that we have. Had it not been for Chief McGlaughlin, this fund may have never come into existence. Now, in 2025, 75 years later, the firefighters' shoe fund is still alive and providing shoes to those children in need. With the ever-growing cost, the fund, at times, finds it hard to fill all the requests that come in. The charity survives on generous donations from the public. Shoe Carnival is the lone remaining full-service shoe store that continues to provide us not only with great service but quality shoes at great prices. They have done this for the past seven years. We are always seeking tax-deductible charitable donations to allow this to continue for the next 75-plus years. Want to donate? People can send tax-deductible donations and make checks payable to the: • Firefighters Charity Fund • 600 West Market St. • Sandusky, OH 44870 Since its inception, the charity fund has placed shoes on thousands of children's feet in and around Sandusky, according to the department. "The Sandusky Firefighters Charity Fund provides a voucher to be used at Shoe Carnival for one pair of shoes to every child involved in a house fire, not just in the city of Sandusky but across Erie County," the statement read. "Vouchers can also be provided anytime Sandusky Fire Department personnel receive a referral from a government or charitable organization," it continued. Information regarding the charity fund can be received by calling the department at 419-627-5822.