Firefighters rush toward the danger, all the while we run from it, counting on them to save us.
The toll that wildfires take on first responders can lead to stress and anxiety as firefighters have to be away from their families, all while battling a blaze that never seems to end.
But thanks to one five-year-old’s gift, things were a bit brighter for these heroes.
Sasha Tinning said she took her grandson, Carver, to shop for donations for firefighters. Her goal, she said, was to find things like food and socks for the firefighters.
But Carver had a better idea of what they needed: Baby Yoda.
So alongside the other purchases, Sasha included Carver’s gift. The little boy wrote a note – “Thank You Firefighters. Here is a friend for you in case you get lonely.” Baby Yoda, or “The Child” is a well-loved character on the Disney series “The Mandalorian.”
Five-year-old Carver holds up a Baby Yoda toy in Scappoose, Oregon. Carver donated the toy to Oregon firefighters, who have been having fun posing the tiny green Force user on the fire lines since. AP Photo
It turns out that Carver was right – the firefighters did need Baby Yoda.
“This has been a very long and stressful fire season and many firefighters are away from their families for weeks, and even months,” said Mike Lewelling, fire management officer at Rocky Mountain National Park in Colorado.
The smallest gift of kindness goes a long way.”
Baby Yoda and Carver’s note “puts a smile on even the toughest of firefighters out there,” Lewelling said.
But the small toy did even more – he joined firefighters on the frontlines in Oregon, Utah and Colorado, spreading joy to the hardworking men and women. Firefighters lined up for selfies, said Tyler Eubanks, who managed the donation drive for the firefighters.
A Baby Yoda doll, from the sci-fi series “The Mandalorian,” hitches a ride in the backpack of an Oregon Air National Guard firefighter. AP Photo
“What’s happening with these fires is quite scary,” said Eubanks. “Baby Yoda brings a positivity to it all. At the drive, when Carver dropped off Yoda, everyone was really emotional when they read the note.”
The firefighters loved the addition of Baby Yoda. “Since Yoda’s a morale booster, I’m getting tons of messages from first responders asking when it’s their turn to get Baby Yoda. Members of the National Guard even thanked me and I was like, ‘What? You are the heroes, not me!’”
Sasha couldn’t agree more.
“These firefighters are putting their lives on the line,” she said. “To have a little bit of sunshine during such a dark time, I think that’s really special for them,” Sasha said. “These firefighters are away from their children, their loved ones. This is a little pal that brings a bit of normalcy to a crazy time.”
Plus, she said, “(Baby Yoda) is also just cute as the dickens.”
Watch below for a look at the sweetest little boy and his amazing gift to firefighters!
