Santa Claus spread extra holiday cheer today in Clermont 

The man in the big red suit could be seen greeting people at Clermont Fire Station #1 on U.S. Highway 50 while Marine Corps League volunteers distributed gifts through Toys for Tots.

Clermont Fire Chief Carle Bishop and Marine Corps League volunteers load a car.

In partnership with the Clermont Fire Department, the Marine Corps League served about 250 families in the Clermont area, which is about 50 more families than last year.

“The City of Clermont champions giving back,” City Manager Darren Gray said. “This is one of many ways that we are happy to partner with the community and help out during the holidays.”

This is the fourth year that the Clermont Fire Department has worked the Marine Corps League, collecting toys at all four of its fire stations and then serving as its distribution center. Previously, area families had to travel to Leesburg for the pickup.

Volunteers sort bags of gifts for distribution

Santa could be seen jovially handing teddy bears and plastic fire hats through car windows as volunteers secretly loaded trunks with giant trash bags filled with dolls, action figures, coloring books and much more.

Santa gives a teddy bear to a family picking up their holiday gifts.
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