Smiles were plentiful Wednesday as residents at the Parkwood Developmental Center received Christmas gifts from city officials.
The Valdosta Fire Department and Mayor John Gayle donated presents to about 40 residents during the Mayor’s Motorcade.
The Mayor’s Motorcade is an annual program sponsored by the Georgia Municipal Association that began gifting residents of a Thomasville medical facility with Christmas presents many years ago, Gayle said.
When the facility closed, Gayle said he advocated keeping the program local and decided upon Parkwood as the recipient.
Gifts will also be given to the center’s child residents who were at school during the time of the event, said Pat Newbern, recreation and pre-vocation director.
“It really means a lot to our clients,” Newbern said. “They love them coming. They started this morning, ‘Fire trucks are coming. Fire trucks are coming.’”