For the sixth straight year, the staff at Georgia United Credit Union helped count the money raised by Whitfield County firefighters during their annual Give Burns the Boot drive. With Lt. Chris West of the county fire department are (from left) Vonda Bledsoe, market manager; Sheena Roberson, head teller; and Theresa Jordon, assistant branch manager
Helping with the annual Give Burns the Boot drive in Whitfield County were (from left) Engineer Michael Blair, Lt. Allan Kendrick, Engineer Will Mann, Lt. Ricky Lloyd, Whitfield CERT member Christina Byrd, Lt. Chris West, Firefighter Jordan Brown, Engineer Sam Hammontree, and Firefighter Charles Heard
Participants in the Give Burns the Boot campaign included (from left, front row) Lt. Scott Denson and Firefighter Branden Pewitt; (back row) Lt. Danny Adams, Firefighter Christopher Adams, Lt. Wayne Saylors, Firefighter Andrew Whyte, Engineer Barry Ownby, and CERT member David Senters
Lt. Allan Kendrick accepts a donation from a trucker
Ready to accept donations for the Give Burns the Boot drive are (left) Firefighter Brady Walters and Lt. Jeff Heatherly
Taking part in the drive are (from left) Lt. Jason Azbill, Engineer Jesse Bond, and Firefighter Cody Kendrick
Engineer Jesse Bond collects a donation from a motorist for Give Burns the Boot
Whitfield County residents reached even deeper into their purses, wallets, and pockets to donate $17,078.52 during the county fire department’s annual Give Burns the Boot drive last month.
Residents dropped bills and change into firefighters’ boots on May 30 at five intersections, including Cleveland Highway and the North Bypass, Cleveland Highway and Ga. Highway 2, Airport Road and Chatsworth Highway, Highway 41 and Connector 3, and Highway 201 and Highway 41.
Over the past six years, Whitfield County firefighters have collected a total of $94,452.
This year’s donations were up about $2,000 over the 2014 figure.
Ninety percent of the money collected goes to the Georgia Firefighters Burn Foundation, with 10 percent remaining with the local fire department to help with fire safety education efforts. That means this year’s drive will see more than $1,700 return to Whitfield County.
“I would like to take this opportunity to thank everyone that participated in this year’s Boot Drive,” Lt. Chris West said. “Because of your efforts, we had another successful year collecting $17,078.52. Whitfield County Fire Department will receive a check at the end of 2015 for $1,707.85 to help with education in our county as a result of the money collected by our department. Once again, thanks for all the support and help from those that participated.”
Lt. West said fire and burn injuries can strike anyone at any time.
“The Georgia Firefighters Burn Foundation is working to help prevent fire-related injuries and deaths through education,” he said. “In addition, the Foundation supports the burn centers in Georgia to allow them to offer the best possible treatment for the patients.”
Fire Chief Edward O’Brien pointed out that the funds will be used by the Georgia Firefighters Burn Foundation to operate Camp Oo-U-La, Georgia’s only camp held exclusively for burn-injured children between the ages of 7 and 17.
About 100 children with burn injuries usually attend the camp each year, paid for entirely by the Burn Foundation. This effort allows the campers one week a year in which they can live without society’s cruel comments and stares at their scars and just be kids.
“By supporting the Boot Drive, the public is also supporting their local fire department and their own community,” Burn Foundation Executive Director Dennis Gardin said.
The Whitfield County firefighters also gave a special thanks to the staff at Georgia United Credit Union for helping count the money that was collected for the sixth year in a row.
The Burn Foundation was founded in 1982 by a group of DeKalb County firefighters. Over the last 32 years, the foundation has grown to incorporate the entire state and expanded its work to include all Georgians. In 1990, the Give Burns the Boot campaign was started to support the foundation’s efforts. Since that time, firefighters have continued their support by collecting more than $12 million.
For more information, go to
www.gfbf.org.