San Jose Father's Heartwarming Tradition: Delivering Pies to Fire Stations on Thanksgiving
In a heartwarming display of gratitude, San Jose father Eric Harvey has turned his appreciation for first responders into a beloved holiday tradition. It all began in 2021 when Harvey made a 911 call, unaware that his wife was in labor at home and needed medical attention. Within minutes, Station 18's on-duty team arrived to help deliver the couple's youngest son, Tony.
That life-changing experience inspired Harvey to show his gratitude to the brave men and women who risk their lives every day. Each year, he bakes and delivers pies to fire stations in South San Jose, a tradition that has grown from two pies in 2021 to 28 pies this Thanksgiving.
Harvey's motivation stems from his own military background, having served six years in active duty and deployed multiple times. He understands the sacrifices first responders make on holidays like Thanksgiving when they are away from their loved ones, waiting for the call to respond.
"I did six years in active duty Navy, four years on a carrier, so I've been deployed for many holidays," Harvey said. "So I know that these folks are away from their home, just waiting for a call incase anybody needs them, and that's all part of it so as far as what the feeling is - it's simply giving back."
This year, Harvey launched a GoFundMe to help with supplies, including 35 pounds of pumpkin, $120 worth of pie shells, and 14 pounds of sugar. He plans to reach out to Beckmann's Bakery based in Santa Cruz for his pies.
As he prepares to deliver his pies starting at 7 a.m. Thanksgiving morning, Harvey hopes that the smiles on their faces will be the greatest reward. "What's going to be the impact of smiles, I mean it's not even that it's going to be after the fact I like to hear that it was edible and that they were like - hey that was actually a tasty pie," he said.
Harvey's ultimate goal is to inspire his three sons to appreciate first responders and for those brave men and women to feel appreciated through a simple yet meaningful gesture of kindness. As he takes on this heartwarming tradition, Harvey knows that it will be a holiday treat not just for the recipients but also for himself.
In a heartwarming display of gratitude, San Jose father Eric Harvey has turned his appreciation for first responders into a beloved holiday tradition. It all began in 2021 when Harvey made a 911 call, unaware that his wife was in labor at home and needed medical attention. Within minutes, Station 18's on-duty team arrived to help deliver the couple's youngest son, Tony.
That life-changing experience inspired Harvey to show his gratitude to the brave men and women who risk their lives every day. Each year, he bakes and delivers pies to fire stations in South San Jose, a tradition that has grown from two pies in 2021 to 28 pies this Thanksgiving.
Harvey's motivation stems from his own military background, having served six years in active duty and deployed multiple times. He understands the sacrifices first responders make on holidays like Thanksgiving when they are away from their loved ones, waiting for the call to respond.
"I did six years in active duty Navy, four years on a carrier, so I've been deployed for many holidays," Harvey said. "So I know that these folks are away from their home, just waiting for a call incase anybody needs them, and that's all part of it so as far as what the feeling is - it's simply giving back."
This year, Harvey launched a GoFundMe to help with supplies, including 35 pounds of pumpkin, $120 worth of pie shells, and 14 pounds of sugar. He plans to reach out to Beckmann's Bakery based in Santa Cruz for his pies.
As he prepares to deliver his pies starting at 7 a.m. Thanksgiving morning, Harvey hopes that the smiles on their faces will be the greatest reward. "What's going to be the impact of smiles, I mean it's not even that it's going to be after the fact I like to hear that it was edible and that they were like - hey that was actually a tasty pie," he said.
Harvey's ultimate goal is to inspire his three sons to appreciate first responders and for those brave men and women to feel appreciated through a simple yet meaningful gesture of kindness. As he takes on this heartwarming tradition, Harvey knows that it will be a holiday treat not just for the recipients but also for himself.
! He's taking the time to show some serious appreciation for our brave first responders, especially during holidays when they're already missing out on quality time with their loved ones. I mean, who wouldn't want a warm pie from a nice guy to brighten up their day? 
It's all about spreading kindness and gratitude, and Harvey is definitely doing just that. He should totally get some recognition for this amazing tradition - it's truly heartwarming! 
, and who can resist a free pie 
? i hope these firefighters have a great time with their pies and that they get the smiles eric is hoping for 
Eric Harvey's idea to show his gratitude to first responders by delivering pies to fire stations on Thanksgiving is literally the icing on the cake 
but seriously, it's amazing that he's turning a life-changing experience into a tradition that brings joy to others. And its great to see him paying it forward and inspiring his kids to do the same. 
He's taking a personal experience and turning it into a beautiful way to show appreciation for first responders who put their lives on the line every day 
It's all about spreading kindness and inspiring the next gen to do the same. His GoFundMe is super cool too - 35 pounds of pumpkin, $120 worth of pie shells... that's some serious baking skills 
! Delivering pies to fire stations is such a thoughtful way to show appreciation, and I'm sure those first responders are gonna be stoked 
. It's awesome that he's sharing his gratitude and spreading kindness on Thanksgiving – it's the perfect way to give back 
. As someone who loves pie, I think 28 pies is pretty amazing too 
! Eric Harvey is definitely making a difference in people's lives, and that's something to celebrate 
. Still, his intentions are pure and that's what matters most 
!
That's dedication and love for first responders. I'm sure it's not just about the pies, though - it's about showing appreciation for people who put their lives on the line every day. My granddad was a firefighter too, so I know how much he loved his job (even when it was tough). I hope Eric's tradition spreads and inspires others to show kindness to those in uniform 
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. Harvey actually baked them himself! 