Published: July 09, 2008 03:23 pm      

Firefighters plan county-wide fundraiser

Ada — The Pontotoc County Firefighters Association has spent the first half of 2008 planning for a fundraising event to be held at Ada Elks Lodge on July 26 and 27.

Proceeds will benefit all county volunteer fire departments. A banquet and a life auction and a silent auction will be Saturday evening and a concert and family events will be on Sunday. Several games, moonbounces, waterslides and concessions will be available for families and children.

Chad Letellier, vice president of the Pontotoc County Firefighters Association, said county volunteer fire departments are in need of a new radio communications system. Their current “Repeater system” is being loaned to them and is inadequate to cover the county. It will cost approximately $50,000 for the upgraded system.

“Communication plays a vital role in achieving an accurate and quick response to an emergency,” Letellier said. “Communication can mean life or death to a citizen or firefighter. It determines the level of efficiency in which any emergency or fire can be attacked safely.

“Most of the Pontotoc County fire departments have trained first responders. Many hours of training and work as firefighters are done without compensation. Supporters of volunteer departments have contributed time, effort and money toward bake sales and bean suppers to keep departments functioning, but all this generosity and commitment can’t achieve this goal without some serious help,” he said.

“We are offering different levels of money sponsorships which include free tickets to the banquet and concert and awards to top sponsors. Another way of being a sponsor is by donating items to be auctioned the night of the banquet. Sponsors will be recognized in all radio, television, and newspaper mentions of this event.”

John Roan, of the Byng VFD, said several donated items will be available for the auction and plenty of food has been donated by various organizations.

Several bands will be on hand to entertain during the concert and Dameon Allensworth, former lead singer of Briar Branch Road, will be flying in from Nashville to perform.

Anyone wanting to be a sponsor of this event can phone Chad Letellier at 421-5145 or John Roan at 421-5739.