Fanning the flames of service for the community
Posted on Wednesday, August 27, 2008
BY LYNN ATKINS Staff Writer lynna @ nwanews. com When they aren't saving lives, many Rogers firefighters are busy building community relationships. For someone such as firefighter Matt Miller - who describes himself as "a Rogers guy" - community service is only natural.
The community-service, relationship-building branch of the Rogers Fire Department is the nonprofit group, Firefighers Inc. It was started in the 80 s, Miller said, to help raise money for the department as well as build relationships in the community.
It also gives members of the department a chance to build relationships, Miller said.
"We don't always see each other now that we have 90 plus guys," Miller said. He remembers when he knew every member of the department and knew the names of their wives and children. Now there's always someone new to get to know.
"It's a tradition in the fire service to build on that brotherhood," Miller said. Firefighters need to trust each other in order to do their job. That's why Firefighters Inc. pays for retirement parties and gifts for members who are promoted within the department as well as an annual banquet for all employees and retirees of the department.
But the group also helps outside the department. Each year their biggest budget item is to buy toys and gifts for needy children through Sharing and Caring. Not only do they buy the gifts, they also deliver them via fire truck on Christmas morning.
"We like to think they enjoy it even more than if the gifts were delivered by Santa himself," Miller said. The children are told that the firefighters were called in by Santa to make the special delivery.
Firefighters Inc. members run the popular Kids Muster event at Frisco Festival. For years the department hosted the Fireman's Muster, where area fire departments compete in contests that test their skills, but they wanted to add something for the kids.
"Kids like firemen," he said. The Kids Muster gives kids the chance to practice firefighting skills, but with equipment scaled to their size. Last year the free event drew more than 100 very wet children. This year Miller expected 150.
Annual fundraisers raise money for Firefighters Inc. Each fall there's the annual chili supper at Rogers High School; in the spring there's a Pancake Breakfast.
This year the annual motorcycle poker run was also held during Frisco Festival. The money it raised was dedicated to the Northwest Arkansas Children's Shelter, Miller said.
On Sept. 2, firefighters will be helping wait on customers at the Fish City Grill. The restaurant will donate a percentage of the day's profits to the organization, Miller said.
Their most visible fundraiser has been going on for the last few weeks. Every Saturday, members of Firefighters Inc. collect money for the Muscular Dystrophy Association at an intersection in Rogers. They move around to different intersections each week, but they'll finish before Labor Day so the money can be donated during the annual Labor Day telethon.
Next year collecting at intersections may be banned by the City Council, Miller said, but Firefighters Inc. will still do the fundraiser. They'll just have to find another place to collect, he said.
Sometimes Firefighers Inc. works with other groups. Last year, they met Wal-Mart Store No. 1 on the basketball court to raise money for the Children's Miracle Network, Miller said.
"We're going to continue to grow as a town, as a community," Miller said. "As we get more stations and have more guys, the chief is encouraging them to come up with new ideas - more and better ways to serve the community."
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