Big Tree Firefighters Respond to Hurricane Katrina

September 09, 2005:

On Friday, September 9^th, 2005, firefighters, family and friends ofthe Big Tree Vol. Fire Co. worked tirelessly for six hours to raise funds for the victims affected by Hurricane Katrina.  Through the hurting feet from standing, numb arms from waving, and being out of breath from running to collect money from passing vehicles, they kept going…remembering that each of them have a roof over their heads, food in their bellies, and family and friends to surround them.

Through their efforts of a “Fill the Boot for Katrina” campaign, they were able to raise over $1,700.00!  “Through these extraordinary circumstances, it’s the ordinary people who are making all the difference” states Firefighter and EMS Captain Jamie-Lynn Winkler. Winkler, who conceived of the fill-the-boot campagin, originally intended to raise $1000.00. 

 

The Big Tree community is also helping victims of Hurricane Katrina in other ways. Firefighters Jeff Gruppo and Christopher Maser recently departed for Atlanta, Georgia where they will be briefed and deployed by FEMA to assist in relief efforts. Gruppo and Maser are responding to a national request by FEMA for twi-man firefighter crews. Additionally, Big Tree

Assistant Chief Christopher Zak just returned from Jackson Mississippi where he worked with the New York State Incident Management Team to implement command and control of relief operations. [Click here to view photos from Jackson Mississippi].

According to Winkler, the money collected will be sent directly to the American Red Cross Disaster Relief Fund. A special thanks goes out to everyone in the Big Tree community who contributed to the fill-the-boot campaign.

 

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