SOUTHWICK – The Southwick Fireman’s Association has already started to distribute this year’s calendars. Having been established for over 75 years, the association is now made up of over 40 current and past firefighters in the department. Every year, the members create calendars to give to every resident and business in Southwick, and in return, attempt to receive a money donation that will go towards raising money for a new piece of equipment for the department.
According to Jess Bishop, who is a firefighter and EMT in the department, association members will continue to hand out calendars this week with the hopes of handing them out to every single residence and business in town by Saturday afternoon. There will be approximately 4,500 calendars distributed.
The 2018 Southwick Fireman’s Association calendars. (Photo courtesy of Jessica Bishop)
This year, any money raised will be used towards the association’s efforts to build a live fire training building. The building will be made out of shipping containers and then framed out with steel, which will help simulate the interior of a home. It will allow the department to have an area where they can have a smoke-filled live fire.
“We can practice more realistic scenarios,” said Bishop, who also added that the building will be located right behind the fire department building where the old DPW garage was.
Bishop went on to further discuss the positive impact the live training building would have on the department.
“It’s an advanced step forward for the department,” said Bishop. “It would be amazing to have that ability.”
In order to help reach the goal of gaining that type of tool for the department, about 75% of the fireman’s association will be on hand this week to deliver the calendars. On Saturday morning, Chief Anderson and his wife, Lisa, will be making breakfast for the members before they all head out to hand out the calendars throughout town.
Last year, the association raised around $16,000 in order to purchase a new altering rescue vehicle. Alike to last year and the year’s before, the fireman’s association is always greatly appreciative of the donations and personal messages that they get from their community during this effort.
“Their support is key to us being successful in attaining this amount of training that we’re aiming for,” said Bishop. “The members were really touched by the support of the community.”
As residents and businesses can donate any type of amount, small or large, there will be a donation card in each calendar for people to donate.
