Photo courtesy of Lacey Staeffler Saturday was “Santa Day” for families of Marshall firefighters. As part of a holiday event organized by wives of Marshall firefighters, kids and families brought in toy donations for Heart To Heart, and met Santa and Mrs. Claus.

MARSHALL — The Marshall Fire Department sees itself as a family — so it seemed like a good idea to find ways for firefighters’ spouses and families to get together as well, Lacey Staeffler said. On Saturday, families brought their children to meet Santa and Mrs. Claus, did holiday activities and also collected toy donations for Lyon County Heart To Heart.

“We wanted to be able to give back to the community,” Staeffler said. All the families who attended the event brought Heart To Heart donations, she said.

The idea for Marshall Fire Department families to gather and build connections was something that took shape over the past couple of months. Staeffler said she organized a group for fire department wives to get to know each other. Staeffler’s husband Justin is a Marshall firefighter.

Members of the MFD wives’ group met to make holiday decorations using spruce tips, and for December the group held a ‘Santa Day.’

“It does show that family atmosphere,” Staeffler said of the event. Plus, it provided an opportunity to welcome and get to know newer members of the fire department. COVID precautions had made it harder to get together over the past couple of years.

“It was a perfect time to get families involved,” Staeffler said.

Some of Saturday’s activities included holiday crafts and decorating cookies.

“You could tell the kids had a lot of fun,” Staeffler said.

Staeffler said the MFD wives’ group hopes to keep planning monthly activities together.