ERIK HOGSTROM, staff writer, Telegraph Herald (Dubuque, IA)

The moment Santa emerged from a Dubuque fire truck elicited cheers, hugs, smiles and a feeling that the true meaning of Christmas had arrived. “It’s overwhelming,” said Todd Gillitzer, of Bettendorf, Iowa. Gillitzer has a daughter (Paige) and a brother (Scott) residing at Hills & Dales Child Development Center. “You need to see it to experience it. It affects not just the residents but their families and other people in the community.”

Sunday marked the 12th annual Hills & Dales 911 Christmas Celebration and gift delivery at the Davis Street facility. With the Dubuque Fire Pipes and Drums group striking up the music, Santa and emergency personnel helpers arrived in fire trucks, police cars and ambulances – lights flashing and sirens sounding. The shouts of joy and smiles spreading around the place suggested that the greatest gift couldn’t fit in Santa’s sack. “Our firefighters and police officers are sent out on so many calls, but today those sirens are sounding because of joy,” said event coordinator Vicki Leonard.

Leonard has been raising money for gifts for Hills & Dales’ residents for a dozen years, and she has seen the event she began grow in scope. “It started out very small, with just a few of the residents,” she said. “We were wrapping presents on the floor of the dispatch center.”

On Sunday, residents filled a meeting room to spend time with Santa, Mrs. Claus and emergency personnel. The emergency personnel surprised Hills & Dales this year by announcing a $10,000 gift to help build a playground on the site.

“It will be great to round out the campus,” said Kathy Billmeyer, residential services director at Hills & Dales. “It will allow for at-home developmental activities.”

Founded in 1973, Hills & Dales provides services to children and young adults with severe and profound mental and physical disabilities.

Leonard credits community support for the success and growth of the project. “People are so generous – they never question this Hills & Dales thing,” she said. “They love these kids.” Leonard is lead dispatcher for Dubuque’s emergency communications department, and she will be retiring in the spring. That won’t change her role in bringing Christmas cheer to residents at Hills & Dales. “I’ll still do this,” she said.