Firefighters collect donations for Jerry's Kids
Published on Wed, Aug 26, 2009Read More Communities
Dozens of off-duty Marysville firefighters and EMTs worked the intersection of State Avenue and Grove Street Friday and Saturday, August 21 and 22, to Fill the Boot for MDA.
Volunteer Joan Beals provided moral and administrative support during the 2-day fundraiser, helping to count donations and making sure the firefighters had plenty of food and water during their shifts. The Arlington woman's son died from muscular dystrophy five years ago.
"I'm proud to help MDA," said Beals. "They helped us so much while we fought my son's illness. They were always there for us."
Even early in the day on Friday, she was impressed by the generosity of Marysville drivers.
"People are being so generous," she said. "They're just dumping their whole ashtrays-full of change-into the boots. People are still giving even in this economy."
MDA coordinator Eddy Lindenstein echoed Beals' observation.
"Every year, the Marysville Fill the Boot event ranks in the top three MDA fundraisers in our region, which goes from King County to the Canadian border," said Lindenstein. In 2008, the firefighters collected around $18,000 in contributions.
Lindenstein admitted the team might not reach the same numbers this year.
"Donations have been hit hard by the economy," he said. "All our major programs are down, but the dollar programs are way up everywhere. People still want to give, but they're definitely having to scale back."
Even with the economic woes, drivers in Marysville were still filling the firefighters' boots with dollars, and even $20 and $50 bills.
Marysville firefighter Jason Schoonover was working the corner early Friday afternoon, on his day off, in sunglasses and a baseball hat. "Drivers are very receptive to the cause," he said. "People want to give."
Basil Bailey brought along his little boy, Logan, to help with the event. Dressed in a miniature fireman's coat, Logan stuck closely to his father as they collected donations from car windows and passing pedestrians.
"In Lynnwood, a woman drove up in an old, beat-up car and wrote out a check for $160," said Lindenstein. "It was clearly a huge donation for her. She said her brother died of muscular dystrophy and she wanted to help."
Volunteer Joan Beals provided moral and administrative support during the 2-day fundraiser, helping to count donations and making sure the firefighters had plenty of food and water during their shifts. The Arlington woman's son died from muscular dystrophy five years ago.
"I'm proud to help MDA," said Beals. "They helped us so much while we fought my son's illness. They were always there for us."
Even early in the day on Friday, she was impressed by the generosity of Marysville drivers.
"People are being so generous," she said. "They're just dumping their whole ashtrays-full of change-into the boots. People are still giving even in this economy."
MDA coordinator Eddy Lindenstein echoed Beals' observation.
"Every year, the Marysville Fill the Boot event ranks in the top three MDA fundraisers in our region, which goes from King County to the Canadian border," said Lindenstein. In 2008, the firefighters collected around $18,000 in contributions.
Lindenstein admitted the team might not reach the same numbers this year.
"Donations have been hit hard by the economy," he said. "All our major programs are down, but the dollar programs are way up everywhere. People still want to give, but they're definitely having to scale back."
Even with the economic woes, drivers in Marysville were still filling the firefighters' boots with dollars, and even $20 and $50 bills.
Marysville firefighter Jason Schoonover was working the corner early Friday afternoon, on his day off, in sunglasses and a baseball hat. "Drivers are very receptive to the cause," he said. "People want to give."
Basil Bailey brought along his little boy, Logan, to help with the event. Dressed in a miniature fireman's coat, Logan stuck closely to his father as they collected donations from car windows and passing pedestrians.
"In Lynnwood, a woman drove up in an old, beat-up car and wrote out a check for $160," said Lindenstein. "It was clearly a huge donation for her. She said her brother died of muscular dystrophy and she wanted to help."
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