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Local business provides Christmas for families in northwest Ohio

Team Johnson Companies provided gifts to those going through a tough time, such as money for rent, trips to Florida and two fully paid-off cars.

TOLEDO, Ohio — The holidays are an exciting time of year, but not everyone gets the gift of being able to celebrate. 

For the fourth year, Toledo-area limo and charter bus service, Team Johnson Companies, is giving back to to some well-deserving northwest Ohioans in hopes of spreading some holiday cheer.

"People get nominated all throughout the year and then I go through all of the families and try to help as many as possible," said Brandon Johnson, president of TJC. "We have a big group of main sponsors that do this every year and chip in with us and we put money back each month out of our businesses to make exactly what is said: a Christmas miracle."

Gifts for the nominees included anything from money for rent, trips to Florida and two fully paid-off cars, along with other gifts and necessities.

"We were stressed about pulling together rent for Christmas so I am really glad we could have something for Christmas this year," said Cameron Rutkowski. "I was talking to my fiance and I said, 'If we were ever rich this would be something awesome we could do.'"

Rutkowski was one of the families who were nominated for the gifts. He is legally his sister's guardian and has spent the past couple of years taking care of her, along with his own newborn.

Other families on the list were going through tough times. Some of their experiences include cancer, death in the family and more.

The families expressed their gratitude with many saying that it meant so much, they wanted to be able to do the same for others.

"I'm definitely going to pay this forward when I get older," said Kylee Rutkowski, Cameron's sister.

Johnson said his company plans on continuing the tradition for the foreseeable future and they are grateful for the donors that help in order to give back. 

"What does it mean for me? (It means) that there are some really super great people in this neighborhood and all over," said Toledoan Kathy Serres. "Wherever you guys come from, just great people. And Brandon and his mom, they are my neighbors, and they are fantastic."

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