Santa, Marines coming to Mount Olive

MOUNT OLIVE Firefighters and emergency medical providers at Flanders Fire Co. 1 and Rescue Squad are getting ready to welcome Santa to town for his two annual visits before Christmas. Santa will visit the Flanders firehouse at 2 p.m. on Saturday, arriving on his Toys for Tots train, operated by the Morristown & Erie, Norfolk and Southern, and NJ Transit railroads. U.S. Marines will be working with Santa on the train to collect new, unwrapped toys for the Toys for Tots program. The toys will be distributed to needy children for the holiday.

For the sixth year, Flanders firefighters are teaming up with the Marines and Santa to collect toys. People can leave the toys at the firehouse in advance or join firefighters meeting the train at the firehouse around 2 p.m. Those meeting the train can talk with Santa and the Marines and take photos with him. Last year, firefighters and local residents donated about 800 toys.

Santa returns to town two weeks later on Dec. 19, when firefighters will escort St. Nick around town on fire trucks. Santa will stop and talk with kids. Firefighters and EMTs will continue to collect toys for the Toys for Tots program, picking them up along the way. Last year, an ambulance following Santa was full of toys by the end of the “Santa run.” Santa is happy to visit children with special needs if parents let him know by calling 973-584-7805.