A firefighter’s holiday side hustle has brought joy to countless kids over the years — but David Saunders, 50, says moonlighting as Santa Claus has been magical for him, too.
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Afirefighter’sholidaysidehustlehasbroughtjoytocountlesskidsovertheyears—butDavidSaunders,50,saysmoonlightingasSantaClaushasbeenmagicalforhim,too.
ForSaunders,whoisbasedinFairfaxCounty,Virginia,playingSantagoesbeyondtradition—it’sadeeplypersonalmissioninspiredbyfamilyandfueledbyapassionforspreadingjoy,accordingtoSWNS.
Saunders,amarriedfatheroffive,begantheholidaygig16yearsago.Atthetime,hisson,then6,hadanillnessthatbroughtthemfrequentlytoChildren’sHospitalinDelaware.
‘HOLIDAYSHOPPINGWIPESMEOUT,HOWCANIKEEPUPMYSTAMINA?’:ASKADOCTOR
“Everytimewewent,hewouldseeallthereallysickchildren,”hetoldSWNS.
“Hewouldleaveandalwayssaytome,‘Man,Iwishwecoulddosomethingniceforallthesekids.’AndIwouldsay,‘Well,youfigureoutwhatyouwanttodo,andwe’lltrytodoit.’”
Thatwishturnedintoanunexpectedcallingfo
