Giving back: Kids bake cookies, deliver them to first responders working on Christmas Eve

SKOKIE, ILLINOIS (WITI) -- Kids in Illinois spent Christmas Eve spreading some holiday cheer -- delivering baked goods to first responders.

"It stinks being away from your family, I'm not going to lie," Skokie firefighter Nick Eaglin said.

"I have small kids -- an eight and a 10-year-old. It's tough being away from them," Skokie firefighter Stan Goolish said.

A special delivery on Christmas Eve made the separation from loved ones a little less painful for these firefighters. Children from a nearby synagogue, Agudath Jacob spent the evening up to their elbows in cookie dough! They baked the cookies, and then delivered them to firefighters, police officers and paramedics across the Skokie, Illinois area.

"We are so appreciative of everything first responders do -- who do what they must to keep our community safe. This is our way of giving back to the community," Miriam Bromberg, a member of the Agudath Jacob congregation said.

"Along with our thanking people, we start bringing our community together," congregation member Joseph Bromberg said.

"It's not our holiday but we want to support it, to spread the cheer to police and firefighters," congregation member Len Fensterheim said.

Renee Rosenberg had a special reason for contributing on Christmas Eve.

"Thirteen years ago I had a four-year-old having seizures on Christmas Eve and got rushed to the emergency room at Saint Francis Hospital. And thank goodness for the first responders who were working that night," Rosenberg said.

Firefighters were happy a Christmas Eve spent on the clock included some warm treats, freshly baked with love.

"It's nice that the the appreciation is shown. We're not here to get patted on the back, but when the community does that, it makes us feel good," Goolish said.