Vermont First Responders Unite for Operation Fire Cuffs 2025, Delivering Holiday Hope to Children
Photo by Highgate Volunteer Fire DepartmentFirefighters, EMS personnel, law enforcement officers, and community partners gather for a group photo during Operation Fire Cuffs 2025, highlighting statewide participation and unity.
Photo by Highgate Volunteer Fire DepartmentA rescue vehicle packed wall-to-wall with donated toys, games, and gifts collected for children receiving care at Golisano Children’s Hospital.
Photo by Highgate Volunteer Fire DepartmentA Highgate Volunteer Fire Department member poses with a hospital physician during the delivery of toys at UVM Medical Center, marking the successful completion of the donation effort.
Photo by Highgate Volunteer Fire DepartmentVolunteers and mascots stand beside a vehicle as toys are loaded and prepared for transport, symbolizing the teamwork behind the operation.
Photo by Highgate Volunteer Fire DepartmentFirst responders, hospital staff, mascots, and Santa Claus gather inside the hospital to celebrate the impact of Operation Fire Cuffs 2025 and the joy it brings to patients and families.
December 19, 2025 — Members of the Highgate Volunteer Fire Department joined fire, EMS, and law enforcement agencies from across Vermont for Operation Fire Cuffs 2025, an annual charitable event benefiting the Golisano Children’s Hospital at UVM Health. The event showcased the strength, unity, and compassion of Vermont’s first responder community as hundreds gathered to collect, transport, and deliver toys to children in need during the holiday season. What began 15 years ago with just two participating agencies—Burlington Fire Department and Vermont State Police—has grown into the state’s largest toy drive for the hospital, now supported by more than 40 agencies statewide. The overwhelming generosity of community members, local partners, and responders ensured that a truckload of donated toys reached the hospital, reinforcing a shared mission of service that extends far beyond emergency response.
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