Crab feast supports volunteer fire departments
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| The social hall at the Annandale Fire Station. |
Nearly 200 people enjoyed an all-you-can-eat crab leg and spiced
shrimp feast at the Annandale Fire Station Saturday afternoon – while helping
the Annandale and Bailey’s Crossroads volunteer fire departments raise some
badly needed funds.
shrimp feast at the Annandale Fire Station Saturday afternoon – while helping
the Annandale and Bailey’s Crossroads volunteer fire departments raise some
badly needed funds.
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| Fire station volunteers serve hundreds of pounds of seafood. |
“We want to get more involved in the community,” says Roger
Waller, chief of the Annandale Volunteer Fire Department (AVFD).
Waller, chief of the Annandale Volunteer Fire Department (AVFD).
Fundraising is important “so we can continue to do the
things we do,” like purchasing ambulances and taking care of building
maintenance, Waller says. The volunteer fire departments rely on donations from the
community, and fundraising is down 25 to 30 percent in the past two years, he says.
things we do,” like purchasing ambulances and taking care of building
maintenance, Waller says. The volunteer fire departments rely on donations from the
community, and fundraising is down 25 to 30 percent in the past two years, he says.
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| Vivianne Couts and Rachel Martin. |
He attributes that to the fact that Annandale has become “a
more transient area and a lot of people don’t understand the nature of a
volunteer fire department.” Revenue from AVFD bingo games is down 40 to 50 percent from what it was at
its peak – mainly due to an aging population and the difficulty of
drawing younger players.
more transient area and a lot of people don’t understand the nature of a
volunteer fire department.” Revenue from AVFD bingo games is down 40 to 50 percent from what it was at
its peak – mainly due to an aging population and the difficulty of
drawing younger players.
Fairfax County pays for the firefighting vehicles,
equipment, and salaries of the front-line firefighters. The AVFD and Bailey’s Crossroads Volunteer Fire Department (BCVFD) own their
land and buildings and operate the ambulances.
The April 23event probably drew more people than the first
crab legs and shrimp fest held by the AVFD and BCVFD last October, says the event organizer, Brenda Waller, Roger’s
wife. She is planning more community events with the BCVFD, including a craft
show on May 7, and other food fests with auctions and raffles.
crab legs and shrimp fest held by the AVFD and BCVFD last October, says the event organizer, Brenda Waller, Roger’s
wife. She is planning more community events with the BCVFD, including a craft
show on May 7, and other food fests with auctions and raffles.
3 responses to “Crab feast supports volunteer fire departments”
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This was a fabulous event!!! Quite possibly the best table service ever! The crabs and shrimp were cooked perfectly.
too bad it doesn't happen more often.
I had a wonderful time and enjoyed every bite. A great community event.