By Alan Sorensen
The Havre Firefighters Local #601 has been actively involved in Muscular Dystrophy Association fund-raisers for dozens of years with its Fill-The Boot campaign. This years effort raised about $2,200.
Three years ago, the Havre firefighters began renovating Kiwanis Camp at Beaver Creek Park for use as an MDA summer camp. With help from local contractors, volunteers, and park officials, the firefighters put in several handicap accessible improvements, including showers and toilets. The path that extends down the hill from Beaver Lodge to Kiwanis Camp proper was constructed and fitted with a handrail in time for the first camp two years ago.
The side of the hill was planted with bushes, flowers, and trees in time for the second camp this last June.
Our next project is we want to build a sidewalk from the bottom of the hill around the cabins and the showers, Capt. Mike Anderson said.
The camp is held each June for about 40 or 50 campers from throughout Montana and parts of Wyoming. There were 42 campers last summer.
Each camper has his or her own counselor who helps with all the daily chores necessitated by the campers condition. There are about 10 other support personnel, including cooks, bottle washers, and gophers.
If someone wants to commit a whole seven (volunteer) days, they could contact us and we could get them an application, Anderson said. Or if someone wants to come out and help with any of the projects, they can contact us, or if they have too much money and want to donate some, they can contact us.
Havre Firefighters also donate their time by driving fire trucks and ambulances around town collecting food donations during the E.L.F. project each year. The Everybody Loves Firefighters project is a two-night event aided by school and church youth group volunteers. It is tentatively set for early December this year, pending city council approval.
The food collections are divided evenly between the Salvation Army and North Havre Community Services Food Bank.
