Firemen rescuing community from hunger
Host first ever Stuff the Squad to stuff food pantry shelves
Vince Ragone, of North Royalton, hands off a Sorry game for Toys for Tots to Kathy Salvo, the fire department’s administrative assistant. Photos by JAIME ANTON
The community was generous in giving food and toys for the fire department’s first ever Stuff the Squad event. Kathy Salvo, the fire department’s administrative assistant, and Fire Chief Bob Chegan are pictured in the background.
The community came to the rescue Dec. 15, filling one squad for the fire department’s first ever Stuff the Squad event, which collected food for the food pantry and toys for Toys for Tots. From left to right are administrative assistant Kathy Salvo, Fire Chief Bob Chegan and firefighter Ken Kulczycki.
NORTH ROYALTON – Public service is in a firefighter’s DNA.
It’s simply what they do, so it’s no surprise the department has created another way to safeguard the community through the first ever Stuff the Squad program, hosted last week.
North Royalton Fire Department teamed up with the fire departments of Parma, Parma Heights, Brooklyn, Brooklyn Heights, Broadview Heights and Seven Hills along with University Hospitals Parma Medical Center and the University Hospitals EMS Training Institute to rescue residents in need from hunger by sponsoring a three-day Stuff the Squad event.
Each collected nonperishable food items to benefit the food banks of the respective communities and in the spirit of giving, each also collected new, unwrapped toys for the U.S. Marine Corps Reserves’ Toys for Tots program.
The three-day food drive culminated with a five-hour food drive at Drug Mart in North Royalton on Dec. 15.
The community was generous as always filling one squad with donations that will be given to the North Royalton Food Pantry Partnership.
Fire Chief Bob Chegan said it’s all in a day’s work.
“Public service is in our DNA,” he said. “We have a group that does a stair climb for the American Lung Association, we do the Fill the Boot for the Muscular Dystrophy Association, Make a Wish, some of the on-duty guys pass out Halloween candy, we cook chili for the Harvest Fest. So, this was just another thing we did this year to give back,” he said.
Just then another car pulled up with another donation.
“It’s the giving spirit,” Chris Ragone said of her reason for dropping off items for others.
Firefighter Ken Kulczycki agrees.
“I wanted to help because this is Christmas and instead of receiving, I want to give back,” he said.
Brothers Michael and Daniel Kohout, 12 and 7, dropped off a bag of donations too.
“Merry Christmas,” they said.
“We’re always trying to find ways to help out,” their dad Kevin said.
While in the middle of the collection, the chief was already thinking ahead.
“We’re already working on next year, some different things and maybe we’ll do this a couple times a year,” he said.
It’s simply what they do, so it’s no surprise the department has created another way to safeguard the community through the first ever Stuff the Squad program, hosted last week.
North Royalton Fire Department teamed up with the fire departments of Parma, Parma Heights, Brooklyn, Brooklyn Heights, Broadview Heights and Seven Hills along with University Hospitals Parma Medical Center and the University Hospitals EMS Training Institute to rescue residents in need from hunger by sponsoring a three-day Stuff the Squad event.
Each collected nonperishable food items to benefit the food banks of the respective communities and in the spirit of giving, each also collected new, unwrapped toys for the U.S. Marine Corps Reserves’ Toys for Tots program.
The three-day food drive culminated with a five-hour food drive at Drug Mart in North Royalton on Dec. 15.
The community was generous as always filling one squad with donations that will be given to the North Royalton Food Pantry Partnership.
Fire Chief Bob Chegan said it’s all in a day’s work.
“Public service is in our DNA,” he said. “We have a group that does a stair climb for the American Lung Association, we do the Fill the Boot for the Muscular Dystrophy Association, Make a Wish, some of the on-duty guys pass out Halloween candy, we cook chili for the Harvest Fest. So, this was just another thing we did this year to give back,” he said.
Just then another car pulled up with another donation.
“It’s the giving spirit,” Chris Ragone said of her reason for dropping off items for others.
Firefighter Ken Kulczycki agrees.
“I wanted to help because this is Christmas and instead of receiving, I want to give back,” he said.
Brothers Michael and Daniel Kohout, 12 and 7, dropped off a bag of donations too.
“Merry Christmas,” they said.
“We’re always trying to find ways to help out,” their dad Kevin said.
While in the middle of the collection, the chief was already thinking ahead.
“We’re already working on next year, some different things and maybe we’ll do this a couple times a year,” he said.