GREENVILLE – Santa Claus came early to several homes in Greenville delivering gifts to children in a Rumpke truck.
Veteran Rumpke driver, Raymond Perkins of Greenville with the encouragement of his son, Austin Perkins a Rumpke driver started several years ago to purchase toys for some of the children on his route. Following the first year, Raymond’s son Mason Perkins, also a Rumpke driver helped with the project.
“Rumpke got involved this year and stepped it up and gave me six hundred dollars to help out,” said Perkins. “The corporate side is helping out too so no money out of my pocket now.”
“It is really neat that Ray does this,” said Rumpke Corporate Communications Manager, Molly Yeager. “This is his third year dressing up as Santa and surprising some families. This year he’s surprising four families throughout the day with presents. It is neat that he has taken this upon himself and this year Rumpke is helping, chipping in to make it a little extra special.”
Perkins and his wife Shelby Perkins go shopping with the money Rumpke donated for the annual Christmas event.
“We pick families with little kids who notice us and are waving at us all the time,” Perkins noted. “This year every child getting something has been nominated by somebody else so I didn’t pick anybody – somebody just came to me and said, ‘this would be a great candidate’.”
“I love that Rumpke keeps Santa alive for the little people because in today’s society, there is so much changed and to get them to still believe in the spirit is awesome,” said Betty, one of the children’s grandmothers. “My grandson is in love with the Rumpke trucks and I’m so glad Santa came on it.”
Rumpke is pleased to be a part of the local scene and is proud of Raymond and all of their many drivers.
“They are professional drivers and they perform an essential, critical service, but the reality is we’re part of the communities that we serve and Ray is a prime example of that,” Yeager said. “He knows these families, he sees them every week, they brighten his day, he brightens theirs and it’s just a sweet story.”
“We enjoy doing this for the community,” added Rumpke Region Manager for Greenville, Noel Moomey.
