Operation North Pole To Host Magical Day For Critically Ill Kids

CRYSTAL LAKE, IL — The Crystal Lake Fire Rescue Department along with other McHenry County fire and police departments will be participating in Operation North Pole Saturday. According to a news release from the Crystal Lake Fire Rescue Department, Operation North Pole is special day of celebration for children with life threatening illnesses and their families during which they'll meet Santa and take a journey to the "North Pole."

The day begins with a breakfast feast before the children and their families are put on a special Metra train that travels to the Metra Crystal Lake Pingree Road train station, according to the news release. Once in Crystal Lake, the special Metra train then takes on the designation of the “North Pole Express”. The Metra train is expected to arrive at the Pingree Road Train Station at 11:50 a.m., where it will be met by members of the McHenry County Fire Department and the McHenry County Police Department. Department members will have snacks and gifts on site, and off-duty firefighters will give those to the children and their families. Scout groups will also be there waving and singing carols from the train station platform, the release said.

According to the fire rescue department, the Operation North Pole train will stay in Crystal Lake for 30 minutes while it changes tracks, and will then head to Des Plaines at 12:20 p.m. As the train heads back to Des Plaines, fire department members will be present at every train station and train crossing along the route, waving and cheering at the passengers who will be on their journey to the "North Pole."

According to a Metra news release, Santa and Mrs. Claus, along with an incredible crew of local firefighters and police officers, will escort the families to winter wonderland, where the "North Pole" awaits them at the Donald E. Stephens Convention Center in Rosemont, for an afternoon filled with dancing, food, candy, music, games and presents.

Metra and Operation North Pole are encouraging Chicago area residents to come out this Saturday to cheer on the families participating in ONP’s annual holiday train trip.

According to Metra, due to the number of buses and escort vehicles used for the event, as well as the needs of the participating families, the public is strongly encouraged to view the train from locations north of the Des Plaines Metra Station. ONP is encouraging people to pack the route to cheer them on. The train is scheduled to pass through the following communities Saturday, Dec. 14 on the following schedule:

• 12:30 p.m.: Train departs Pingree Road Station in Crystal Lake
• 12:35 p.m.: Cary Station
• 12:38 p.m.: Fox River Grove Station
• 12:44 p.m.: Barrington Station
• 12:48 p.m.: Baldwin Road crossing
• 12:49 p.m.: Quentin Road crossing
• 12:51 p.m.: Palatine Station
• 12:53 p.m.: Rohlwing Road crossing
• 12:55 p.m.: Arlington Park Station
• 12:58 p.m.: Arlington Heights Station
• 1:06 p.m.: Cumberland Station
• 1:10 p.m.: Stop at the North Pole (Des Plaines Station)

In addition, ONP is paying it forward this year by partnering with the Barrington-based charity, Let it Be Us, a charity advocating on the behalf of children in foster care across Illinois, which also recruits foster and adoptive parents. All are encouraged to come out to the Barrington Station to cheer on ONP and bring donations of socks, underwear, pajamas, warm coats, hats, gloves, or nonperishable snacks for Let it Be Us, which will use the donations to provide children in the Illinois foster care system with essential items, according to the news release from Metra.

Metra added that since 2011, the exterior of the train has been decorated with a holiday theme sponsored by the charity. After Saturday’s event, the decorated train will be used for commuter service on all three Metra commuter lines operated by Union Pacific.

For more information about ONP’s mission, and information on how to volunteer or donate, visit operationnorthpole.org.