Parker Councilwoman Fundraises for Fire Department Kitchen
Nearly $800 has been raised this month online to help refurbish the Parker City Fire Department kitchen (photo used with permission from the department’s Facebook page)
by Jonathan Weaver
The smallest city in the United States is gaining support from people across the nation.
Councilwoman Kim Palmer started an online fundraising page to raise money for the local fire department, and in three weeks, the page has raised nearly $800.
“Only when you live somewhere where you see how fire halls are run do you really understand the lack of money, funding and the sacrifice they put into it,” Councilwoman Palmer said.
Councilwoman Palmer first became “hungry” for helping the community when she, her husband Frank and many other local residents donated to the local fire department when volunteers battled ice jams last winter along the Allegheny River. She was elected to City Council a few months later and is putting her talents to work to help the fire department raise money for a kitchen industrial vent hood and ice machine.
“We’re struggling, as is every town. And, on top of that, you have people here that have lost their jobs,” Councilwoman Palmer said. “So, when I moved up from Pittsburgh and saw how this was really ran, I’m very aggressive about (fundraising) and I’m trying.”
Councilwoman Palmer has reached out to friends out of state, election candidates and even celebrities with ties to western Pennsylvania.
“Anything I can think of to get it out there, I do. And I will continue,” Councilwoman Palmer said. “I’m tenacious like a bulldog because I think that’s what needs done and I don’t think people know.”
Palmer’s daughter, Allie Burton, also donated $300 to the fire department.
City Mayor Bill McCall is also treasurer of the fire department and is fire police captain.
A Parker native, Mayor McCall said all of the fire department’s funding is based off of fundraisers. The city does not allocate money toward the fire department annually, and the kitchen has never been upgraded since the fire hall was built in the early 1970’s
Mayor McCall said a kitchen update is important since the fire hall acts as a senior center Monday through Thursday. The kitchen would also be used as part of an emergency shelter if needed.
“Everybody would get a chance to use the kitchen,” Mayor McCall said. “Some things are running by the skins of its teeth – we put $500 into our dishwasher just earlier this year.
Fire Chief Bill Bartley has been a Parker City volunteer for 12 years, and said the department’s “constant fundraising” mainly goes toward insurance.
He appreciated Councilwoman Palmer for “running with the idea.”
Assistant Fire Chief Rick Amsler, a volunteer for 32 years, also donated $25 toward the cause. He joined as a junior firefighter at the age of 16.
“It’s something I’m going to do until the day I’m dead,” Amsler said.
Amsler’s 17-year-old daughter, Jennifer, is also an active firefighter.
The fire department hosted a chicken-and-biscuit dinner yesterday and a Mother’s Day Dinner is also scheduled.
Councilwoman Palmer was also inspired by the Hudson Volunteer Fire Department in Hudson, Indiana that raised more than $51,000 on their GoFundMe page.
Local News | jweaver April 20, 2016
By Kim Palmer, April 21, 2016 @ 10:19 PM
If you can help out our fire hall please go to gofundme and search for Fire Hall Kitchen Update- Parker PA. Thank you in advance! Also, May 4th is Firefighters Day. This is the day that is set aside to celebrate the dedication, heroism and importance of firefighters from all over the world. If you see a firefighter don’t forget to say thank you. 🙂