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Ring the Bell (Salvation Army) This was new and creative event that Chief Len Malmquist got the department involved with about 5 years ago. Seeing that the Salvation Army was struggling with helpers to ring the bell, CES stepped up to the plate and donated its services. At the present time, CES lends a helping hand for one entire day, usually occupying one of the kettles located in the artic entry of Safeway. Personnel on duty are not allowed to help, unless they take annual leave to donate their time. Mostly staff personnel, spouses, and on-call personnel man the kettle for the 8-hour time frame. The time involved with this is; one, scheduling one day with the Salvation Army and secondly, scheduling a list of CES personnel wishing to participate or “fill in the blank” to the schedule. Holiday Food Bank Drive This is an activity that CES got involved with approximately 5 years ago. CES works closely with the Kenai Peninsula Food Bank on selecting a PSA to serve as an announcement to the community, notifying the public that all CES station locations are drop-off points for food contributions during the Thanksgiving and Christmas Holidays. We’ve even had challenges come from the career personnel on providing food to the cause. MDA “Fill the Boot” This will make the tenth year that CES, the only fire department located on the Kenai Peninsula, that personnel will physically walk the streets for money, begging money for “Jerry’s Kids, MDA, “Fill the Boot.” The department takes over the intersection of the Sterling Highway & Kenai Spur, with red lights shining, and boots a walking to ask the community to donate money to this worthy cause. In the year 2005, working 15 hours over a two-day period, we collected $16,500 for MDA. The second largest amount of money collected by any fire department in the state, second only to Anchorage. This event takes the most amount of time of all, more than all the other community events put together. Usually posting of the event occurs about 2-3 weeks prior, with e-mails sent to all personnel about one month before the event. This gives those individuals who wish not to participate, time to think up an excuse of why they can’t help. It takes about 15 people per day, working 7-8 hours to make a success go at breaking the previous years collection. Usually with the chief’s permission, two command vehicles, two rescue units, and a ladder truck, set on each of the four corners of the intersection, lights a-flashing, notifying the public something’s happening at the intersection. With fire boots in hand we approach as many vehicles we can, asking for donations for MDA. On duty paid personnel, with the permission of the chief, make hourly money pick-ups, taking it back to the station for rolling and total money tabulations. |
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© 2006-2008 Central Emergency Services. All Rights Reserved. |
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