Firefighters with the Kinston Department of Public Safety are going to be working this Labor Day weekend to assist others dealing with muscular diseases.
They will be in two areas from Friday through Sunday taking donations for their annual “Fill the Boot” campaign.
Donations can be made at two places — the Walmart Plaza on Hill Farm Road and Fit 4 Life at the Herritage Plaza on N. Herritage Street — on Friday from 4-8 p.m., and Saturday and Sunday from 1-5 p.m. All proceeds will go to the Muscular Dystrophy Association.
The MDA is one of the world’s biggest nonprofit health organizations, funding research, health care and support services for more than 40 neuromuscular diseases, attacking more than 1 million Americans.
The fire department is one of the biggest advocates in raising money for the MDA. Last year, firefighters across the nation raised $26 million.
Kinston firefighters raised about $1,000 last year. David Ricke, a retired fire captain who is leading the Fill the Boot event, said the firefighters are planning on setting the bar higher.
“We’d like to raise $1,500 to $3,000 this year,” Ricke said. “This is the first year we’ve gone out full force and done this program the entire Labor Day weekend. Also, we’re going to be raising money from two different locations at the same time for three days. Usually we’ll do one shift at a place, and then hit another on the same the same day.”
The fire department will also be working in the memory of Tanner White, a firefighter with the Hugo Volunteer Fire Department, who passed away from a neuromuscular disease in February. White had participated in the Fill the Boot events for years.
“We want to raise money so we can help the MDA get things like wheelchairs, kids to their summer camp and research to find cures,” Ricke said.
MDA Coastal Carolina Fundraising Coordinator Liz Welborn expressed her gratitude to the way the KDPS has taken on the additional work without question.
“We always try to maximize exposure,” Welborn said. “On Labor Day weekend, families are out and about, shopping, eating and enjoying themselves. We coordinate with the fire department and it’s up to their discretion on how many days they want to do the fundraiser.
“We’re truly thankful for the Kinston Fire Department. Their dedication to the fundraiser shows in the fact they want to it from Friday to Sunday.”
KDPS Director Bill Johnson stressed the importance of participating in such a vital fundraiser.
“Every year we try to be involved in it,” Johnson said. “It raises funds to help with different things fire departments do. It’s always good to do anything we can to help the community and these program services will definitely benefit the area.”
Junious Smith III can be reached at 252-559-1077 and Junious.Smith@Kinston.com. Follow him on Twitter at @JuniousSmithIII.
Want to donate to help the ‘fill the boot?’ Here’s how:
Locations: The Walmart Plaza on Hill Farm Road and in Herritage Plaza in front of Fit 4 Life on N. Herritage Street
Times: 4-8 p.m. Friday and 1-5 p.m.Saturday and Sunday