Firefighters’ Fill the Boot campaign raises funds for muscular dystrophy research
The Fairfax County Fire and Rescue Department’s Fill the Boot campaign raised $187,300 for the Muscular Dystrophy Association.
Firefighters stood at intersections from Aug. 31 to Sept. 3 collecting donations from motorists and pedestrians. People can continue to donate to the campaign online through the end of the year.
The Annandale Fire Station (#8) on Columbia Pike, was one of the top fundraisers, collecting more than $8,000 for the Fill the Boot campaign. The Jefferson Fire Station (#18) in the Falls Church area of Mason District collected over $6,700.
The Muscular Dystrophy Association is a non-profit organization committed to finding treatments and cures for muscular dystrophy, ALS, and related neuromuscular diseases. The funds raised through the Fill the Boot campaign will support research and resources for individuals and families affected by these debilitating diseases.
The Fire Department thanks the individual volunteers and organizations for helping the campaign, including the Fairfax County Professional Firefighters and Paramedics IAFF Local 2068, the Department of Public Safety Communications, the police department, the Department of Vehicle Services, Fairfax County Fire and Rescue Retirement Association, and the Volunteer Fire and Rescue Association canteens.
I personally hate this campaign. We already have people panhandling at intersections and the county has advised people not to engage, but now firefighters do the same thing and it’s okay? If they want to raise money they should use a different method.
Agreed. Terribly awkward to have them competing with the homeless for spots on the median. Also, it’s always been a bit unseemly to have public employees raising money for one charity and not another. Why MDA and not cancer or MS or any number of other maladies? Who makes this call?