To the editor:
First responders in Brown County are dedicated to the safety of our communities. They are our heroes. We want to gather future support for these important volunteers and public servants. Therefore, the Brown County Community Foundation (BCCF) and the Brown County Rotary Club are partnering with local volunteer fire departments for a “Fill the Boot” campaign on Oct. 28.
Congress designated Oct. 28 as National First Responders Day in 2017. With this resolution, they honored the brave firefighters, police officers and EMTs that spring into action to keep us safe. This Oct. 28, we will be working with volunteers across Brown County to Fill the Boot for our local volunteer fire departments including Brown County VFD, Cordry-Sweetwater VFD, Fruitdale VFD, Hamblen VFD, Jackson VFD and Southern Brown VFD. Rotary members and local firefighters will be collecting donations from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. at the following locations:
- Village Green Pavilion
- Corner of Main and Van Buren streets
- Brown County IGA
- Bear Hardware
- Gnaw Mart
- Corner of Main Street and Schoolhouse Lane
- Nashville BP
Donations collected on this date will be split evenly with all six Brown County volunteer fire departments. These amazing volunteers put their safety on the line to help their fellow Brown County residents. We want you to consider a gift of any amount to help during this trying year. You can also donate by text if you can’t physically get to these locations on Oct. 28. You can donate by texting the code FILLTHEBOOT to 44321 or by checks made out to BCCF sent to P.O. Box 191, Nashville, IN 47448.
Most of these departments have had to put the few fundraisers they host on hold due to the pandemic. With little income, they are struggling to get by this year. We want to ensure that these dedicated volunteers have the financial support they need to serve our community. So, join us and donate to directly support our local heroes!
We have also been working this month to boost the endowments funds that support many of our local volunteer fire departments. If you would like to make a gift to an invested endowment fund to help your local firefighters, your donation will help with operational expenses as part of an annual income disbursement from their associated fund. Text BCHEROES to 44321 to contribute to the endowment funds that annually support the following volunteer fire departments; Brown County Volunteer Fire Department Fund; Fruitdale Volunteer Fire Department Fund; Hamblen Township Volunteer Fire Department Fund; Jackson Township Fire Department Fund.
The Brown County Community Foundation has the best interests of the community at heart. By supporting charitable organizations in broad areas of community need — education, social services, health care, arts and humanities, and environment — we help build a stronger, healthier Brown County. If you have any questions, please contact us at 812-988-4882.
Sean Hildreth, marketing and communications officer, Brown County Community Foundation
