Trish Bennett, Editor
CIRCLEVILLE – City firefighters collected more donations for the Muscular Dystrophy Association in the first day of the Fill The Boot campaign this year than the entire event last year and are still going strong through Saturday in front of the fire station on North Court Street.
Captain Arron Kerns said Shift 3 firefighters raised $1,569.52 on Thursday by asking local residents to donate to MDA in the firefighter tradition that coincided with the annual Jerry Lewis Labor Day Telethon for the cause.
Though the telethon no longer airs, Fill The Boot is still going strong, and local firefighters will be out again in front of the fire station from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday collecting money in fire boots. Anyone interested in donating who can’t make it during that time is welcome to drop off a donation inside the fire station, Kerns said.
Residents who donate also receive a coupon from Scioto Valley Coffee that can be used an unlimited number of times through Sept. 12, Kerns said.
Though a tally for Friday’s donations was not yet available at press time, Thursday’s total was more than all donations in 2014, in which contributions and a donation from the firefighters union Local 1232 amounted to about $1,300.
This year may be on track to nearing figures from 2012 and 2013, which netted $5,381 and $5,096 respectively for MDA.
Kerns said money from the donations is used for services like medical supplies at MDA summer camp; support group sessions; physical therapy consultations at MDA clinics; initial diagnostic work-ups at MDA clinics; annual repairs of wheelchairs and other equipment; and a week at MDA summer camp for children afflicted with the disease.
For information on the history of the Fill The Boot campaign, visit the International Association of Fire Fighters web site.
This article originally appeared on The Pickaway News Journal
