60th Volunteer Firefighters Annual “FREE” Ham Dinner
Sunday, February 19th at Taft High School 11:00am to 6:30pm
The Firefighter’s Ham Dinner has been taking place since 1957, as a means for local volunteer firefighters to raise funds to support their work in providing you emergency services.
Guests of the Ham Dinner get a treat a for the 60th Anniversary, free ham dinner (of course, donations are gladly accepted) and folks have a chance to become better acquainted with their volunteer fire personnel.
This year, the volunteers selected a succulent honey cured ham from Kenny’s IGA, a delicious brown gravy sauce, coleslaw, and Mo’s Restaurant is providing free their famous Marionberry cobbler making this truly a community effort and event.
North Lincoln Fire & Rescue volunteers will welcome hungry friends and families with an exhibit, bigger displays, our newest engines and trucks, and of course there will be Earthquake, Tsunami, Fire Prevention and Life Safety information. Local CERT members and other Emergency Preparedness organizations will also be there!
From this annual event, the “volunteers” acquire equipment or supplies that the District might otherwise not be able to make available. Over the years, money raised by the Ham Dinner, along with generous donations, has purchased a number of items that allow the volunteers to provide better emergency service.
In recent years, heart monitors, were purchased in 1998 and 2001. In 2002, over $12,000.00 was used to purchase a Thermal Imaging Camera, an infra-red device useful in finding hot spots in fire situations and live victims in limited vision situations.
In 2003, the volunteers purchased a set of two rams and anchor plates to add to the “Jaws-of-Life”, cost $5200.00; in 2006, $670.00 was spent to maintain water rescue gear and $3500.00 was used to acquire a new “Rapid Deployment” rescue inflatable craft. The Association purchased another Thermal Imaging Camera for $8950.00, matching a North Lincoln Fire & Rescue District purchase.
Seven electric reciprocal saws to be used for vehicle extrication and fire overhaul were purchased for $900.00. A stair chair to help move patients up and down stairs was acquired, and a few years ago, with $3000.00 from the Ham Dinner Fund, volunteers were able to purchase four portable light units which are used at accident scenes, water rescue incidents and other places that corded lights won’t reach.
The intention is to give the dinner customers a good meal, educate the public to what our volunteers do in the district, share life saving information and give the proceeds (donations) back to the community in the form of improved emergency services.
Information provided by NLFR
