A Surprise Birthday Party

Oakland Childrens Hospital contacted Random Acts with a request for an 11-year old girl whose 5-year sister has cancer and is not expected to live. Their names are being withheld here to protect their privacy. The devoted and adoring older sister has constantly been by the side of her younger sister who has been receiving chemotherapy and radiation for the past two years. In the past few months, her tumor has been progressing and she is not likely to survive for more than a few months. The older sister, who also serves as translator for her Spanish speaking parents, has missed out on many things in the past two years as her family's focus has been on the younger sister. The family has limited resources and is unable to do much to celebrate her upcoming birthday. Recently, when Firefighters from Station 8 "C" shift presented the family with gift cards and toys, the mother was go grateful that tears were streaming down her face.

When nurses at Childrens Hospital decided to throw her a surprise birthday party, they asked the older sister what she wanted. The first thing she said was for her younger sister "to be cured". After her tears stopped, she said "to see her smile". Ultimately, she admitted that she would like an I-Pod. Being a big fan of Tinkerbell, she also wanted a Tinkerball blanket, sheets and pillowcases. Random Acts provided the I-Pod and Tinkerball bedding assessories "Con Mucho Amor de Los Bomberos de Oakland ("With much love from Oakland Firefighters"). Afterward, Random Acts received this e-mail that made our day: "Thanks for the I-Pod and all the birthday presents!!! This was the greatest day of my life!! God bless you. You are nice people. Oh, and thank thank the Firemen, too. Wish you were here!!".

Jaee Logan

During Christmas 2004, Oakland Firefighters visited the home of Jay Logan to bring presents to his children. Pictured here is his, then 5-year old, daughter loaded with gifts. On July 2, 2006, Jay Logan's 14-year old son, Jaee, was tragically slain while waiting for friends on his way to a barbeque. The loving son and football player was shot in the 800 block of 45th Street.


A year and a half later, we did not forget our initial meeting and visit with Jay Logan. We contacted Lt. Adrian Sheppard at Station 5, 'B' shift, to inquire about the tragic incident, only to learn that Lt. Sheppard is family friends with Jay Logan's family. We wanted to give Jay's, now 7-year old, daughter a bicycle and some toys, so Adrian arranged for Jaee Logan's 25-year old sister to come by Station 5 to pick up the gifts. Majal was very grateful and appreciative for the gifts and expressed her desire to do something to end the senseless violence in the streets of Oakland that is taking the lives of so many young people. Jay Logan has created an organization called S.A.V.O.Y. - STOP ALL VIOLENCE ON YOUTH - an organization dedicated to ending violence on youth in Oakland.

Bearing Gifts

Station 5, 'B' shift, visited a house on 34th Avenue bearing gifts and good will to a family that was involved in a shooting incident one year ago where five people had been shot. The tragic incident, to which the crew had responded, took the life of a woman's nephew and left her to care for his four children in addition to two of her own. Recently, while the same crew responded to a medical incident at another house next door, they encountered this family sitting on their porch still grieving their loss a year later. The Firefighters returned to visit them today bringing toys and sporting equipment for the children and an Albertsons gift card and a cosmetics gift bag for the woman. Regardless of how long it is after an incident occurs, the healing process goes on indefinately.

Donation for Burial Expenses

Station 18, 'A' shift, presented a check for $500 to a woman whose father was killed by a hit-and-run drunk driver on Father's Day, June 18th. The tragic accident occurred on International Blvd and 38th Avenue when the driver of the vehicle, that had been spinning donuts in the street, careened off the curb and drove up on the sidewalk, killing the father who was standing with his son and daughter talking to a man sitting in another vehicle. The son was also injured and taken to the hospital. The father's body was returned to Mexico for burial. This was an emotionally traumatic incident for all involved, and the responding crew presented the gift to the father's daughter to help pay for the burial expenses and to express their condolences and sympathies to the family.

Stolen Infant Car Seat Replaced

One day a woman walked into Station 18, 'C' shift, to report that her car had been stolen with an infant car seat inside. She told the Firefighters that she did not have the money to replace the car seat although relatives were kind enough to loan her the use of their cars to drive. She asked the Firefighters if they could help her get another car seat. Lt. Carlos Harvey determined that this was a legitimate need and request, so he contacted Random Acts. Together we went shopping with him to purchase a new one. Carlos delivered the infant car seat to the woman's house and he said that she was very thankful to the Firefighters for their help. The car and the infant car seat were never recovered.

Citizen Heroes Alejandro and Maria Dolores Duran

On July 9, 2006, two Citizen Hero Awards were presented at Station 18, 'A' shift, to Alejandro and Maria Dolores Duran. On May 10, 2006, a van full of people smashed windows of an AC Transit bus with baseball bats while harrassing a passenger on board. While fleeing, the van crashed into a Toyota Corolla, injuring the driver of the Corolla and a young female child, as well as passengers in the van. Maria Duran used a pair of scissors to cut the seat belt of the driver of the van to free her. Then, when passengers of the van tried to assault the father and child who were in the Corolla, Alejandro and Maria took the father and child into their home to provide a safe refuge until paramedics arrived to take them to the hospital.

The Citizen Hero Awards were presented to Alejandro and Maria Dolores Duran in recognition of their courage and compassion to help those in need while placing themselves in harm's way, and for providing shelter and comfort to those in need of a safe haven. Captain Enrique Padilla and Lieutenant Frank Tijiboy presented the awards at Station 18.