Firefighters Help Mda By Shaking Their Booties
They weren’t putting out fires at the intersection of Sprague and Sullivan on Saturday. But Valley firefighters still were trying to beat the heat.
The flame dousers were sweating their way through their 20th annual Fill the Boot fundraiser. More than 50 volunteers from the Valley Fire District donned their dress blues, brought along their empty bunker boots and asked motorists to fill them up with change or extra bills. They collected $11,000.
For more than 40 years, firefighters across the United States have been raising money for the Muscular Dystrophy Association. During this weekend’s MDA Labor Day telethon, a check from the Valley firefighters, as well as the Spokane and Districts 4, 8 and 9 firefighters, will be presented at Cavanaugh’s Inn at the Park, the local telethon site.
When the traffic light turned red, firefighter Andy Reilly saw green as he walked out to the waiting cars and trucks, ready to fill his fifth boot of the day.
“It’s nice to see the people, who don’t have much, give you fives and tens,” said Reilly, who’s been with the department for 1 years. “It makes you realize that people are a lot nicer than you think.”
Last year, at the same intersection, the firefighters collected $8,600, with $130 as the largest donation. Last year’s totals for the city and county exceeded $40,000.
“All the money stays in Eastern Washington,” said event organizer Susan Pine, who’s been a Valley firefighter for nine years. “It helps pay for kids to go to camp, for therapies, for wheelchairs.
She said the International Association of Firefighters, of which all fire departments are members, is the largest single contributor to MDA in the United States. Last year, the IAF raised more than $11 million for the organization.
Not many drivers were reluctant to roll down their windows for the local heroes. Most of them excitedly opened up their wallets and held out dollar bills. Then some drivers asked how the money was going to be used. Many people emptied their car’s ashtrays, chock full of coins, and cupped their hands, ready to unload the loot.
In the sweltering midday sun, Clifton Mehaffey, 26, was taking a much-needed break. He scouted out the cold sodas and pizza donated by Fred Meyer, Pizza Hut and Pizza Pipeline.
For Mehaffey the best part was watching kids stuff money into the boot and seeing them smile when he gave them a sticker.
“It makes you feel good seeing people who are really happy to give to you.”
, DataTimes