Firefighters will hold two “Fill the Boot” fundraisers at the following locations:
Aug. 2, 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. in St. Helena, Yountville and Napa;
Aug. 2, 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. in Middletown (downtown and at Twin Pine Casino);
Aug. 9, 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. in Sebastopol, Cloverdale, Sonoma and Guerneville.
The last two locations will be in Lakeport and Brooks with date and times to be announced.
Local firefighters are asking local residents to come out and help support the Muscular Dystrophy Association and Jerry’s Kids.
Each dollar dropped into a firefighter’s boot will go to support local MDA services: research for neuromuscular diseases, the clinic at UC Davis, summer camps and community education.
The MDA does not receive funding from state, federal or local governments, nor does it seek or receive fees for services.
The fire service as a whole has been a long running supporter of the MDA. Its history began in 1952 when the father of a child who was burdened with a neuromuscular disease, in desperation, sought the aid of George Graney, IAFF Local 718 member and the help of the Boston Fire Company.
Immediately, 20 firefighters set out to conduct a door-to-door canister drive that raised $5,000 to help with the child’s medical expenses. In August of 1954, Graney spoke at the IAFF’s (International’s Association of Fire Fighters) biannual convention and proposed that MDA be established as the International’s “charity of choice”. He gained unanimous approval and this marked the beginning of a formal bond between IAFF and MDA.
Cal Fire took on the challenge to support Jerry’s Kids in 2008, statewide. This is CAL FIRE’s second year of involvement with the “Fill the Boot “fundraisers for MDA and we will continue to do so until there is no need for fundraisers.
