(BUFFALO, N.Y.) – Santa Claus took time out of his busy day Thursday December 15th, 2004 to make a special appearance at Rural/Metro Medical Services to inspect the company’s annual toy drive. He then turned the toys over to the F.A.T.H.E.R.S. for distribution at their annual Christmas party for disadvantaged children.

Paramedics, Emergency Medical Technicians, and administrative people were on hand to help Santa put these toys into his sleigh (a fully equipped ambulance). This is the third year that Rural/Metro and its employees have given to the drive. “There is no better feeling at this time of year than to see a young child’s face light up when they open a present” says Rob Zachrich, General Manager of Rural/Metro.

Leonard E. Lane, the president of F.A.T.H.E.R.S. says he expects more than 1600 children at this year’s party at school 61. “Every child deserves a toy at Christmas and we intend to see that all these children have just that” said Lane.

F.A.T.H.E.R.S. was formed in September of 2000 after two stray bullets crashed through two windows at School 61 Early Childhood Center at Leroy and Grider. Since that time the F.A.T.H.E.R.S. group has logged thousands of volunteer hours in and around the school to make it the safe haven it should be.

Rural/Metro, headquartered at 481 William L. Gaiter Parkway in Buffalo, New York, has satellite offices and ambulance bases in Amherst, Cheektowaga, Hamburg, and Niagara Falls as well as several others locations throughout Erie, Niagara and Orleans Counties. Their 520+ paramedics, EMT’s and support personnel are responsible for servicing 22 hospitals, more than 100 nursing homes and health care facilities, most major sporting and entertainment events in the region, as well as the one million residents who reside in Western New York.