Auburn firefighter Eric Saunders, right, talks with firefighter Dan Hillier while putting on his Santa Claus suit Friday at the Auburn fire station on South Main Street. Saunders and Hillier were getting ready to deliver Christmas presents to children during their annual Truckload of Christmas event. Daryn Slover/Sun Journal

Santa’s sack of presents sits on an Auburn fire truck Friday. Auburn firefighters will deliver gifts to the children of 42 families this holiday season during their annual Truckload of Christmas event. “The program grows every year,” said firefighter Eric Saunders. Daryn Slover/Sun Journal

Auburn firefighter Eric Saunders, dressed as Santa Claus, delivers presents Friday to a home in Auburn. Firefighters deliver presents to over 120 children during their annual Truckload of Christmas event. Staff from Auburn’s 10 public schools help firefighters identify families in need and then firefighters deliver toys when the children are home from school. “Little kids are excited. Teenagers don’t talk,” Saunders said about the response he gets as the fire truck pulls in front of a child’s home. Retired firefighter Jim Hart started the program about 10 years ago and firefighters raise money through Auburn Firefighters Local 797 to fund the program, said Saunders. Daryn Slover/Sun Journal

Koby Harmon, 11, puts the gifts from Santa, Auburn firefighter Eric Saunders, under his Christmas tree Friday in Auburn. Firefighters deliver presents to over 120 children during their annual Truckload of Christmas event. Staff from Auburn’s 10 public schools help firefighters identify families in need and then firefighters deliver toys when the children are home from school. “Little kids are excited. Teenagers don’t talk,” Saunders said about the response he gets as the fire truck pulls in front of a child’s home. Retired firefighter Jim Hart started the program about 10 years ago and firefighters raise money through Auburn Firefighters Local 797 to fund the program, said Saunders. Daryn Slover/Sun Journal

Auburn firefighters Dan Hillier, left, and Mark Boulet fill Santa’s sack with presents Friday in Auburn. Firefighters shopped for gifts when the Truckload of Christmas program started 10 years ago. They have since realized that they are terrible at shopping. Now, the wives of firefighters do the shopping. Daryn Slover/Sun Journal

Koby Harmon, 11, gives Santa Claus, Auburn firefighter Eric Saunders, a hug after Auburn firefighters delivered Christmas presents Friday in Auburn. Firefighters deliver presents to over 120 children during their annual Truckload of Christmas event. Firefighter Dan Hillier is at left. Daryn Slover/Sun Journal

Auburn firefighters Dan Hillier, left, Eric Saunders, center, and Mark Boulet head back to the fire truck after delivering Christmas gifts to two children Friday in Auburn. Daryn Slover/Sun Journal