Clarissa Kell | Daily Press A Gladstone Public Safety fire truck stops along Superior Avenue as volunteers go door-to-door with candy canes in Gladstone Sunday. The Gladstone Christmas Candy Cane Food Drive took place Sunday. Volunteers collected 3,978 pounds of non-perishable food, as well as $456.79 in cash donations. The collected items were delivered to St. Vincent de Paul in Gladstone for distribution within the Gladstone community.

GLADSTONE — For about 25 years, first responders in Gladstone have brought holiday cheer in a unique way by going door-to-door with candy canes. Fire trucks decorated with Christmas lights drove down the streets of Gladstone for the annual Gladstone Christmas Candy Cane Food Drive Sunday.

Christmas music filled the streets as the Gladstone Volunteer Fire Department, Gladstone Public Safety Department, Escanaba Township Volunteer Fire Department and their friends and families handed out candy canes in exchange for non-perishable food items.

Gladstone Public Safety Sgt. Scott Larson said roughly 20 volunteers and their family members carried Christmas stockings full of candy canes, donated by Walmart, to hand out during the event.

“Really what the event is, is to spread some holiday cheer,” Larson said. “And in a positive way, help out the local food pantry.”

He added the best part about the entire event is it shows how great the little community of Gladstone is with everyone taking the time and thinking of others by donating canned goods.

About 20 volunteers with their friends and families collected 3,978 pounds of nonperishable food, as well as $456.79 in cash donations this year.

What happens local, stays local.

All of the nonperishable food items and monetary donations went to the St. Vincent de Paul in Gladstone.

According to Larson, the volunteers never ask for monetary donations, but volunteers are equipped with an envelope just in case.

Last year was a record breaking year with 4,120 pounds of non-perishables and $542 collected.

The Gladstone Public Safety and Gladstone Volunteer Fire Departments use both of its trucks for the event.

During the event, groups of volunteers walked along the sidewalks going door to door while a fire truck followed playing Christmas music. Other trucks were close behind the fire engines to carry the non-perishable food item when homeowners provided donations.

To cover more ground, one fire truck and group of volunteers went down every street on one side of 9th Street and the other went down every street on the other side of 9th Street.

Larson explained the Escanaba Township Volunteer Fire Department handled the Bluff area.

The annual event has evolved over the years.

Dave Brock, the assistant fire chief of the Gladstone Volunteer Fire Department, explained it was himself and four others that started the tradition about 25 years ago.

According to Brock, it was himself, Larson, John Golzynski, John Harris and one other individual that started it all.

“We used to start at like 5 o’clock and we did the whole town — we wouldn’t get done until around 1 o’clock in the morning,” he said. Now the event goes from 5 to 8 p.m.

The tradition began with five volunteers, one truck and candy canes.

Brock said they didn’t ask for non-perishable donations until years later.

“It’s really evolved in a good way,” he said. “I mean, we still get to do what we like and get to pass it forward. We get the cans, the goods and the money and hand it to those that need it. And that being said, that’s a good thing.”

Brock and Larson both agreed one of the best parts of the event is seeing the excited faces of kids peeking out windows as the fire trucks go from street to street.

“You know, when we see people it’s not normally under very good circumstances. And when you get to do something like this, it really puts a different light on what we do,” Brock said.

He added this event creates an environment when people are happy to see a fire truck come towards their home.