A child celebrating a birthday can be difficult and disappointing for many young girls and boys during the COVID-19 crisis.
However, without breaking any physical distancing rules, the North Bay Police and Fire Department have joined forces to offer special recognition for youngsters ages 10 or under celebrating a birthday.
Constable Aaron Northrup, President of North Bay Police Association was the one who came up with the idea.
"There is a lot of support for first responders along with police out there right now with COVID-19 so I got thinking about all the kids at home that celebrate birthday's because everyone is isolated right now," said Northrup.
"So I spoke to Mike Gillies who is the president of the North Bay Professional Firefighters Association and we came up with an idea to help kids that have reached their 10th birthday during the emergency measures act to go by and drop off a gift from McDonald's and bring a cruiser and fire truck and kind of light it up for them."
To qualify the child's birthday needs to be between April 20 and May 12 window.
Northrup says so far, the response has been very impressive.
We released it on Monday and by Tuesday morning we have had 70 requests," said Northrup.
However, some of those calls come from parents who live outside the North Bay-Callander jurisdiction.
"We have had people from Powassan, Corbeil, Sturgeon Falls and they asked us to go out there but unfortunately we can't because that is outside our patrol jurisdiction, the same with the fire service."
Police Chief Scott Tod was excited to hear about the birthday concept.
“It is rewarding to see frontline members volunteer and show compassion to those who are adversely affected by the current restrictions that we live with," said Tod in a release.
"To give children the feeling of a community celebrating along with their birthdays is truly an honourable act of generosity.”
If your son or daughter does have a birthday and meets the age criteria (10 and under) the police service asks you to contact the North Bay Police front desk and ask for Sgt. Jody DeHaas (705) 497-5555 ext. 277 or email her at [email protected].
"Leave information when the child's birthday is, how old they are, where you live and contact information," said Northrup.
"Hopefully, they can remember this forever because I am sure they will not forget COVID-19."
