SOUTHWICK – The Southwick Fire Department is teaming up with the Muscular Dystrophy Association to have a Fill the Boot Drive Fundraiser on Sunday Oct. 9 from 11 a.m. until 4 p.m. It is the first year that the Southwick Fire Department will be a part of the event constructed by the MDA.
At the Select Board meeting on Monday Oct. 3, the Select Board made the motion to approve the fundraiser.
Members of the Southwick Fire Department will be at the intersection on College Hwy near the Southwick Fire Department walking up to cars to collect money. All of the donations will go to the Muscular Dystrophy Association.
According to Southwick firefighters Brian Schneider and Jessica Bishop, about 15 members of the Southwick Fire Department are already expected to be volunteering.
All members of the department will be collecting money into the boot when there is a red light at the intersection. The firefighters will then move to the sidewalk or median before there is a green light.
Southwick Firefighters Brian Schneider and Jessica Bishop went in front of the Select Board to request approval for the Fill the Boot fundraiser on Oct. 9. (Photo by Greg Fitzpatrick)
Referenced from the Fill the Boot Safety Plan that the MDA has constructed, “One member of the crew is to be a “lookout” during Fill the Boot operations at an intersection. They will be advising of light changes, possible hazards, etc.”
The firefighters or volunteers will all be required to be wearing traffic safety vests. Every intersection that will be held for collections will have signage to alert the oncoming traffic.
Just recently, a representative of the MDA presented in front of the entire Southwick Fire Department to talk about their safety when participating for this fundraiser.
“I think the thing I appreciated was the model safety plan they (MDA) presented,” said Southwick Fire Chief Russ Anderson.
Being a part of an important cause, the Southwick Fire Department wants to help the MDA in any way they can.
“It’s a great cause,” said Anderson. “We see people with muscular dystrophy all year long with ambulance calls so anything we can do to support is a positive.”
