2009 - Garden Valley Firefighters Association
The GVFFA are the volunteer firefighters that formed an association to support the career firefighters. They help the career staff on calls. They help cover the station when the career staff is called out of the County or out of the district. The group is actively involved with raising funds to assist with buying equipment for volunteers that the district cannot purchase. They raise these funds with yearly raffles and other events.
Sunday, September 5th volunteers and GVFPD staff members rolled out of bed early to set in motion one of the best fund-raisers held at the Garden Valley Fire department. Everyone who attended this event is still talking about the great breakfast and the fun they had during the day. The fund raiser was an effort to raise money for the Garden Valley Firefighter’s Association and benefits the association in many ways through-out the year. Their last successful fund-raiser was the defensible space clearing in May of 2009. Although several GVFPD firefighters were on assignments in Southern California (Station Fire) and the Yosemite fire, their co-workers kept the warm greetings and enthusiastic interaction going with all those in attendance.
Kitchen details and the organization of the pancake breakfast fell to Jamie Pelton, FAST team coordinator. Her husband Jim, stood at the grill with pancake flipping duties, along with volunteers Geri and Carl Bristol, doing kitchen assist. Over 100 breakfasts were served with the help of all the FAST Team members and some GVFPD staff. Orange juice, coffee, sausage and bacon and those great pancakes kept this team going from 8AM until noon. A special shout out goes to Cassidy Lendes!
Outside, at the back of the station, the weather cooperated and when the sun finally appeared to warm up the crowd of shoppers looking over the rummage items and the vendors scattered around the field area, that’s when the fun began. No offer was refused. Sectional couches, antique beds, three wheel bikes, ceiling fans, toys, kitchen gadgets, canning jars, used television sets (in working condition), more toys, books, lamps, jewelry and clothing, all began to disappear. Items from vendors were also donated towards the end of the day. The firefighters cannot thank everyone enough for their generous donations and for helping to make this a very successful event. Items that did not sell were donated to Snowline Hospice on Tuesday.
All district employees and management would like to thank everyone who supported this event, by going to the breakfast, the buying and donations of rummage, and the participation from the local vendors. A special thanks goes out to sales managers at K-Mark, Safeway and Wal-Mart all on Missouri Flat Road, for their donations, as well.
This years officers are President, Linda Szczepanik; Secretary, Janine Bovyer; and Treasurer, Christina Havens.
